This is d’Arry’s second Mencia release and as Mencia is a grape native to Spain, it’s pronounced “Men-thee-ah.”And very much unlike d’Arry, it’s released within a year of being made! Crazy stuff.

d’Arenberg, The Anthropocene Epoch, Mencia, McLaren Vale, 2017

 Dark and brooding garnet in the glass with bright purple edges. Aromas of velvet, fresh leather, turned earth, white pepper, a kiss of rose petals and fruit of plums blackberries and strawberries. Plush, earthy, spicy and asphalty all at once. The depth is obvious and the suave fruit has a definite dark underbelly to the silky mouthfeel. The tannis are mesh like; weavers of a tapestry that holds it all together. The crave for fresh, pimento spiced finger food to go with this is palpable. A creep of points upwards for sheer early drinkability.

RRP: $29
Alc: 14.2%
Rating: 17.25/20

Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg