Envinate Lousas 2020

The Lousas Vinas de Aldea is the village cuvee from Envinate’s vineyards in Ribeira Sacra, sourced from mainly the Riberas do Sil region, with smaller amounts from vineyards in Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei. The blend ends up being about 80% Mencia and 20% a mix of the other local grape varieties like Brancellao, Caiño, Sousón, Garnacha Tintorera and others. Grapes are harvested by hand, ferment with native yeasts, and age in concrete, used French oak and foudres. The 2019 vintage was very good, with moderate temperatures unlike the past few hotter years, and perhaps as a result this year’s wine is more approachable and open than the 2018 or 2017 vintages, showing delicate herbal tones and vibrant red fruit on the nose, and a medium-bodied palate brimming with macerated strawberries, mineral notes, and delicate tannins.Envínate (meaning 'wine yourself') is the brainchild of four friends who met while studying enology at the University of Miguel Hernández in Alicante. Their work is currently focused in exploring the ancient, Atlantic-infused terroirs of Extremadura, Ribeira Sacra, and the Canary Islands. Their philosophy is simple; let each 'parcela' or single parcel, fully express itself by utilizing old-fashioned farming and wine-making methods. To this end, no chemicals are used in any of the Envínate vineyards, all parcels are picked by hand, the grapes are foot-trodden, and the wines are fermented exclusively with wild yeasts, with a varying proportion of whole clusters included. Typically alcohol levels are kept at 13 degrees or below. For aging, the wines are raised in old barrels with sulfur added only at bottling. The results are some of the most distinctive and exciting wines being produced in Spain today.