Martin Sarmiento Cuatro Pasos Mencia 2012
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From the large, efficient Martín Códax co-op originating in Rías Baixas, and a newcomer here. It specialises in a lively, modern approach to its wines and this is very much in the school of modern Bierzo, with its crisp, clean fruit, notes of dried herbs and careful oak underlay.
Other Vintages
2009-
Robert
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Four places: Otero, Hornija, Corullón y Valtuille with four different stories that define the character of their people and vines. And this is how Four Steps came about, 100% Mencía elaborated from grapes chosen from the over 80-year-old vines from the slated lands located in the high areas of the Bierzo region.
Primarily found in the Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras regions of Spain and in the Dão of Portugal (where it is called Jaen), Mencia is an early ripening, low acid grape that can produce wines of great concentration, complexity and ageability. And yet Mencia once suffered from a poor reputation and deemed capable of producing simple and light red wines. Post-phylloxera growers would grow this variety on low, fertile plains, which produced high yields and uncomplicated finished wines. Somm Secret—The recent rediscovery of the ancient, abandoned vines planted on rugged hillsides of deep schist has unveiled the potential of Mencia and added discredit to its old reputation.
One of the few northwestern Spanish regions with a focus on a red variety, Bierzo, part of Castilla y León, is home to the flowery and fruity Mencia grape. Mencia produces balanced and bright red wines full of strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, baking spice, pepper and black licorice. The well-drained soils of Bierzo are slate and granite.