Las Tres Filas Mencía 2023

Bierzo, a small region sandwiched between Galicia and Castilla y León in northwest Spain, is best known for reds made from Mencía. And these are wines have been gaining something of a following in recent years. This one which comes from 80-year-old vines, spent six months in oak and was bottled unfiltered shows their best side. Fresh and elegant, it's got bright strawberry and raspberry aromas, a touch of violets, and a bit of vanilla smoothness from the oak. It's silky and soft on the palate and with a minerality that keeps things lively. And modestly priced as it is, it punches well above its weight.

Works a treat with roast lamb, turkey, or even a simple steak - fresh enough to cut through, smooth enough not to overpower. That said, it's just as good on its own.

Bodegas Merayo might be a relative newcomer - they started up 2010 - but the Merayo family has been tending vines in Bierzo for generations. It was Juan Merayo and his father Pedro who decided to take things up a notch, building their own winery rather than simply selling their grapes in bulk. With the benefit of already having several hectares of old-vine Mencía and Godello to work with they had a bit of a head start for a new outfit. That's something which they've certainly taken advantage of and in this up-and-coming corner of northwest Spain it hasn't taken them long to make a something of a name for themselves.