Spain — wine

Ribeira Sacra

The most dramatic wine region in Spain — vertiginous slate terraces carved into the gorges of the Sil and Miño rivers in Galicia, where 70-degree slopes have been cultivated since Roman times. Ribeira Sacra produces Mencía reds of unique character: lighter in body than Bierzo, more perfumed and silky, with an earthy-floral quality that has drawn comparisons to Burgundy Pinot Noir. Godello is the white variety of note. The region's extreme viticulture — heroic, terraced, and often accessible only by boat — results in wines of genuine character from some of Spain's most striking landscape.

Year Rating Notes
2021 Cool vintage producing the most elegant, aromatic Mencías of recent memory. Extraordinary precision and aging potential.
2020 Warm year with some rain challenges. Best wines showed excellent freshness from the river gorge microclimate.
2019 Outstanding vintage — long, cool ripening season produced Mencía of extraordinary perfume and mineral depth.
2018 Classic Ribeira Sacra vintage — medium-bodied, perfumed wines for earlier drinking.
2017 Reduced yields from spring frost produced concentrated, site-specific wines of excellent quality.