Mencia hasn’t quite taken over McLaren Vale the way Touriga or Nero d’Avola have, but if Alan Varney keeps making wines like this, it might just catch up.What started as an experimental release back in 2020 has now graduated to the main lineup, and for good reason. Sourced from Oliver’s Taranga in the Seaview sub-region, this 2024 release shows exactly why this Spanish native has such a solid future in the Vale.Alan keeps the winemaking pretty simple – just nine days on skins and a short spell in Burgundy barrels. It’s definitely on the fresher side of things. You get a bright, medium-bodied red that balances juicy red fruit with some really interesting exotic spice and gamey aromatics. It’s a mid-weight red, with tannins that are super approachable.It’s drinking great straight away but has the balance to keep for another three to five years if you want to see where it goes.
95 points“Such a characterful wine, with the making teasing out layers in the fruit, rather than layering inputs in. Thoughtful. Individual. Delicious.”– Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
