Sufreiral Mencía 2023
D.O. Bierzo
From a hidden limestone enclave in Bierzo comes Sufreiral 2023, a parcel wine that redefines purity and place. Crafted by César Márquez, this limited cuvée originates from a 0.5-hectare plot perched at 620 meters of altitude, where 100-year-old vines thrive on rare limestone soils—an anomaly in the region.
The blend consists of 85% Mencía, 12% Alicante Bouschet, and 3% white grapes, all co-planted and hand-harvested. The soil, rich in limestone and perfectly ventilated thanks to the slope’s orientation, yields grapes with unique finesse and structure. No irrigation is used, and production remains extremely low—between 2,000 and 3,000 kg/ha.
Vintage Characteristics
2023 brought a return to the classic vintage style: a cold, wet winter followed by a spring threatened by early budding. The season was marked by alternating rainfall, thunderstorms, and moderate summer temperatures. September's harvest was slow and meticulous, with the team working many days under raincoats. These conditions produced delicate, aromatic wines with floral notes and elegant textures, reminiscent of cooler vintages like 2001 or 2021.
Winemaking
Fermentation occurred spontaneously in 1,000-liter open vats with 30% whole clusters, using only native yeasts. Grapes were gently foot-trodden, with light daily cap submersion by hand during a 25-day maceration. No temperature control or filtration was applied. After pressing, the wine settled for 7 days before being transferred to French oak barrels (600L and one 1,200L foudre) for a 12-month aging period.
Bottling
Scheduled for January 2, 2025, the total production is just 1,940 bottles.