Cantariña 5 Valdeobispo

The 2018 Cantariña 5 Valdeobispo is also classified as Vino de Paraje as it was produced with grapes from the lieu-dit that names it in Villafranca del Castillo. It's a rather unusually dark, almost opaque and explosive Mencía from centenary vines that I could swear was a just-fermented Touriga Nacional with it's intoxicating nose of violets and round, lush palate with 14% alcohol, melting tannins and a somewhat decadent personality. It comes from a 1.63-hectare plot planted in 1910 on a south-facing slope at 525-550 meters in altitude that has old Mencía and young Godello vines. It fermented in an oak foudre and matured in used French barriques for 12 months.

Tasted blind. Deep and intense ripe black-fruit aromas accompanied by herbal notes. Very concentrated with a minty hint. It's easy to see that high-quality grapes were used to make this wine. Very well managed, it has intense and delicate spiced flavours at the mid palate and an appealing succulent texture.