Our Wine Choice: Veronica Ortega Mencia Bierzo ROC 2020

As tasters and journalists at JamesSuckling.com, our focus extends beyond simply identifying quality in wine. We also strive to uncover and highlight wines that each of the us find particularly appealing, and this week my pick is a spectacular offering I wanted more of for a few reasons.

The Veronica Ortega Mencia Bierzo ROC 2020 is another red from Spain that shows remarkable drinkability. In our annual report on Spain last year, we focused on the audacious new generation of winemakers in the country who are reshaping the wine scene by embracing a lighter, more delicate style, highlighting clarity and drinkability over sheer opulence and richness.

This Bierzo ROC 2020 exemplifies this trend, with its fresh and alluring peppery blue fruit, minerality, herbs and engaging stemminess. With a fluidity and natural succulence that grace the palate, it is undeniably drinkable. The tannins, while not indulgently plush, possess a fresh, firm and finely textured quality. Each sip is a juicy sensation akin to biting into ripe but very fresh and crunchy fruit.

The mencia grapes used in this wine came from two very old-vine plots in northwestern Spain’s Valtuille – El Couso and La Rata – yet it boasts a great level of freshness. The role of whole bunches is emphasized, which could be the reason for the wine’s pronounced white pepper, floral and stemmy lift with added texture and energy to the otherwise rounder and fleshier center palate. It is yet another delectable, succulent mencia that cleanses the palate with every sip.

– Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor