92 2010 Raul Perez Vico Mencia (Bierzo) 3/31/17 ($30)
100% Mencia 14% alc
Color: Deep black cherry. (3.0) Bouquet: Black cherry and black raspberry liqueur with hints of guava, musky old vines and Indian spice. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with excellent fruit, acidity and smooth tannins. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but fruit is not quite as sweet with a slight musky bitterness. (3.0) Finish: Nice length with smooth tannins adding slight bitterness. (3.0)
Overall: Still as good as it was in its youth, except the young fruit and tannins have matured and smoothed. The black cherry, black raspberry and guava fruit are still popping with incense highlights. Raul Perez makes some of the very best Mencia I've tasted. They have an artisanal precision to them that's impressive and the old vines fruit is top notch. May be drinking at its best now, but should hold a few more years. (16)
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