Envinate 2021 Lousas Doad Mencia 750ml
One of two new village reds in 2021 is the 2021 Doad Lousas, sourced from different terroirs in the village of Doade, Soutochao, Capeliños, Escalada, Meixeman, etc., on different soils. It vinified in open bins with 100% foot trodden full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in neutral barrels of different ages. It has a more austere personality; it feels a little more closed with some earthy tannins within the juicier and more fruit-driven style from the Doade village in the Sil Valley. 3,300 bottles were produced. Like all the 2021s, it was bottled at the end of November 2022
Score: 95 points -- Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate, Nov 2023
Doade is a protected village DO in Ribeira Sacra now, after many years and attempts to have it accepted and protected. This bottling from Envinate is from the village, but as they don't submit their wines for DO approval, they cannot use the full name of the village here. Soils here are mostly schist, with quartz and gneiss. A lovely, medium-bodied red, with notes of herbs and spice. There is a forest floor profile that reminds me of Raffault Chinon Picasses. A wine to guard, with perfect material, structure and elegance.
-- chambersstwines.com