SPAIN

Mauricio Lorca

For many Opimian Members, the name Mauricio Lorca is synonymous with Argentina, as we have been enjoying his wine from the Uco Valley in Mendoza for many years. However, in 2017, while traversing northern Spain on the Camino Trail, the beautiful Ribeira Sacra region also caught Mauricio’s attention. The terrain here is so hilly, the slopes can be up to 70 degrees. Tending the region’s vineyards is such a challenge, it is referred to as heroic viticulture. In our 2022 Spanish Cellar, we introduced Mauricio’s wines from Casa de Outeiro. This year, we are excited to be able to build upon this offer with the Opimian premiere of Mauricio’s second winery Viñas de Belesar.

Casa de Outeiro’s Origen wines are light and fresh, reflecting the land on which the grapes were grown while the select fruit of the Escudo wines provide this range with additional complexity and intensity.

$ 40 $ 240

Godello

A mouth-watering wine calling out for a plate of oysters dressed in herb mignonette. Its delicate aromas of peach, lemon, green apple and melon are complemented by a hint of minerality. The palate is both fruity and saline, with highlights of lime, lemon, green apple, grapefruit and white peach. 2023-2026 – lw

Godello

A brilliant example of Godello that checks all the boxes: balance, length, complexity and intensity. A touch of smokiness and minerality adds intrigue to the citrus and floral notes of the bouquet. The first sip reveals fulfilling complexity – a harmony of peach, nectarine, apricot, celery and honey, while the long finish is dressed with notes of grapefruit and minerality. 20232026– lw

14.5%

Peach, lemon, green apple, melon, mineral

Lime, lemon, green apple, grapefruit, white peach, saline, [2.70]

Oysters dressed in herb mignonette

Citrus, floral, smoke, mineral

14%

Peach, nectarine, apricot, celery, honey, grapefruit, mineral, [1.70]

Pan-seared scallops with lime and coriander

4203

Mencía

$ 35 $ 210

Amandi is a premium sub-zone of the Ribeira Sacra appellation located in Galicia in Spain’s northwest corner. This is a multidimensional wine with a bouquet of earthy plum, black cherry, cranberry, violet and balsamic notes. The palate is velvety smooth with vibrant cranberry, raspberry, plum, rhubarb and cherry flavours. The satisfying length finishes with a pop of spearmint. 2023-2026 – lw

Mencía 6

$ 49 $ 294

Mencía is the flagship red wine of the Ribeira Sacra region. It is typically a mid-weight, moderately tannic wine that could be considered an alternative to Cabernet Franc. The bouquet of this wine is warm and inviting with notes of cherry, plum, cranberry and herb. Maturation in barrel adds the alluring scent of a cedar forest after the rain. The concentrated fruit flavours echo those on the nose and are wrapped in smooth tannin. 2023-2028 –lw

13.5%

Mencía, field blend

$ 64

$ 384

One of the Masters of Wine’s top-scoring wines of the Cellar made from a MencÍa-led field blend harvested from 100-year-old vineyards. It is a full-bodied wine with a notable depth of flavour and sturdy, ripe and well-integrated tannin. Aromas of violet, plum, raspberry and mocha precede flavours of cranberry, raspberry, plum and red currant. The extended finish reveals a sprinkling of nutmeg and clove. 2023-2028 –lw

Violet, plum, raspberry, mocha

Cranberry, raspberry, plum, red currant, nutmeg, clove

Hard sheep’s milk cheeses

Black earth, plum, black cherry, cranberry violet, balsamic

Cranberry, raspberry, plum, rhubarb, cherry, spearmint

Chorizo and green olive empanadas

13.5%

Cherry, plum, cranberry, herb, cedar

Cherry, plum, cranberry, herb, cedar

Cured, smoked cecina beef

This mixed case from Casa de Outeiro provides the opportunity to explore two different expressions of the Ribeira Sacra’s Mencía variety.

4206 CASA DE OUTEIRO MENCÍA CASE - 3 BOTTLES EACH: GAMA ORIGEN AND GAMA ESCUDO

$ 39 $ 234

CASA DE OUTEIRO MENCÍA, DO RIBEIRA SACRA, GAMA ORIGEN, 2021

Mencía

The ideal BBQ wine with aromas of plum, blackcurrant and smoked meat. Smoky red and black fruit and a touch of herb follow on the palate. A small portion of the wine matures in oak for 15 months, providing enhanced texture and flavour. Serve alongside a plate of slow-cooked beef ribs, baked beans and cornbread. 2023-2026 – lw

14.5%

Plum, blackcurrant, smoked meat

Plum, black cherry, cranberry, herb, oak spice, smoke

Beef ribs barbecued low and slow

CASA DE OUTEIRO MENCÍA, UVAS SELECCIONADAS, DO RIBEIRA SACRA, GAMA ESCUDO, 2021

Mencía

Made from low-yielding vines with a southfacing exposure, this is a medium-bodied wine with a smoky black and red fruit character. Half of the wine is aged in French and American oak barrels which adds notes of oak spice and cedar. Ready to enjoy now and will continue to mature over the next several years. 2023-2027– lw

14.5%

Plum, cranberry, oak spice, cedar, smoke, earth

Plum, cranberry, raspberry, cedar, oak spice

Warm butter bean salad with smoked paprika