La Penetencia 2013 Ribera Sacra

13.5%

€50

Elegant dark cherry and blueberry fruits on nose and palate. Piquant, elegant and precise with fine tannins on a wonderful lingering finish. Drink with pork dishes or duck and game, or hard cheeses.

I presented this wine in the Emerging Wine Regions discussion at the Ballymaloe Litfest 2015 (see my blog), as a representative of all the exciting things that are taking place in northwest Spain and northern Portugal as well. I like Rías Baixas but there is so much more to this region, including the Alvarinhos of northern Portugal and the wines of Ribeiro, Valdeorras and Monterrei. However, on my last visit, I fell in love with the region of Ribeira Sacra (I have always like the wines). Running along the Sil valley are these almost vertical ancient terraces, with vines, and all sorts of green vegetation. It is hauntingly beautiful, a bit like the Douro but greener. La Pentencia is made by the region’s most famous winemaker, Raúl Pérez. It is from a single vineyard. The soils are slate, the vines (mainly Mencía, with Alicante Bouchet, Bastardo and Caiño) are over a hundred years old. The wine is expensive but enchanting.

Available from 64wine, Glasthule.