Mencía

Written by Christine Marsiglio MW

How to pronounce Mencía:
Men-thee-uh

A red variety from the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) that’s quickly developing a following. It’s loved for its heady aromatics, lively acidity, and potential to age.

Also known as: Jaen

Table of Contents

Primary Flavors

  • Tart Cherry
  • Violet
  • Anise
  • Blackberry
  • Crushed Gravel

Taste Profile

Mencía, a native of Spain and Portugal, captivates with its deep violet hues and aromatic intensity, reflecting its high anthocyanin content and terpenoid composition. If you like Pinot Noir, you’ll probably love Mencía.

On the nose, Mencía releases a floral bouquet intertwined with strawberry, raspberry, black licorice, cherry sauce, and a hint of pomegranate. The aroma showcases its unique terpenoid subgroup, painting an evocative sensory picture.

On the palate Mencía surprises with a peppery burst, balanced by tart notes of sour cherry and red currant with high levels of acid. Tannins range from smooth and moderate to light yet grippy. Depending on its region of origin, a mineral-like texture may be present, enhancing its peppery character.

Dry

Medium Body

Medium Tannins

Medium-high Acidity

13.5–15% ABV

How to Serve Mencía Wine

Serve Mencía at just below cellar temperature, between 55-60°F (12-15°C), to best express its delicate aromatic profile. A universal wine glass works best, as it promotes aeration and magnifies the bouquet. Decant Mencía wines for an hour before serving, allowing the wine to fully unfold.

Over time in bottle, Mencía evolves to savory and earthy notes. Most bottles mature elegantly over 3-7 years, while exceptional examples can continue to develop for up to a decade or more.

Alan-tran-pepper-steak-au-poivre
Peppery, meaty dishes embolden the red fruit flavors in Mencía. Photo by Alan Tran.


  • SERVE

    55-60°F / 12-15°C



  • GLASS TYPE

    Universal


  • DECANT

    1 Hour


  • CELLAR

    10+ Years

Mencía Food Pairing

Mencía’s versatile nature harmonizes with a range of dishes. Its floral bouquet and tart fruitiness shine with lean meats, charcuterie, and rich, savory stews. A fine partner for cured cheeses, its peppery notes also enhance earthy mushrooms, hearty beans, or steak au poivre.

With age, it becomes a robust companion for game meats. Its subtly mineral undercurrent makes it a compelling pairing for seafood paella, revealing the depth of Spanish and Portuguese cuisine.

Mencia-on-the-boldness-scale-wine-folly

5 Fun Facts About Mencía

  • Mencía’s parents are Alfrocheiro and Patorra, both from Portugal.
  • Mencía is often mistaken for Cabernet Franc due to their aromatic similarities.
  • The mineral undertone in Mencía can is often attributed to the slate and granite soil it grows in.
  • Mencía was once known primarily for young, fruity wines but now shines in aged complex expressions.
  • Mencía ripens early, usually in mid to late September, which makes them less vulnerable to autumn rains.
Mencia - Jaen wine regions of Spain and Portugal by Wine Folly
Mencía (aka Jaen) is found in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

Where it Grows

Originating from northwest Spain, Mencía thrives in regions like Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, and Valdeorras. It’s also cultivated in Portugal’s Dão region as Jaen. The grape’s natural acidity and delicate aromas are preserved in these cool, high-altitude climates, with diverse slate to granite soils contributing to its complex, high-quality wines. Despite global interest, Mencía’s most acclaimed expressions are deeply rooted in its native Iberian Peninsula.

  1. Spain: 20,977 acres (8,489 hectares)
  2. Portugal: 6,328 acres (2,561 hectares)

Total Vineyard Area – 27,310 acres (11,052 hectares) (data from 2016)

Bush vines on a hot day planted on a hill in Spain
Bush vines in Bierzo, in Galicia, Spain. Photo By Javier Pereda.

Spain

What to expect: Spain, with its cooler, high-altitude vineyards, provides the ideal conditions for Mencia’s delicate aroma and natural acidity to flourish. Expect Spanish Mencía to be medium-bodied and aromatic, showcasing ripe red fruit flavors, mineral notes, and often, a distinct peppery spice. The wine’s character can vary significantly between regions, with the most prestigious hailing from Bierzo and Valdeorras.

Bierzo: Nestled in the mountainous landscapes of northwest Spain, Bierzo Mencía wines often display a unique depth and complexity. Expect a tantalizing array of ripe red fruit flavors, floral notes, earthy undertones, and an intriguing minerality. Many Bierzo Mencías are aged in oak, adding a touch of smoky spice.

Valdeorras: Valdeorras produces Mencía that offer a different, but equally captivating expression. Valdeorras’ Mencía typically presents bright, fresh red fruit flavors, coupled with floral hints, and underlined by a distinct minerality from the region’s predominance of granite soils. These wines are lighter, and more fragrant, offering a fascinating counterpoint to the bolder expressions of Bierzo.

portugal-dao-vineyard-mencia-jaen
Vineyard in the Dão region of Portugal.

Portugal

What to expect: Mencía, known as Jaen in Portugal, is primarily cultivated in the Dão region. Typically, Portuguese Jaen is lighter in body, exhibiting red fruit flavors, floral notes, and a spicy nuance. Its refreshing acidity allows versatility in food pairing.

Dão: Dão’s unique continental climate, protected by surrounding mountains, greatly influences its Jaen. The temperate conditions enable the grapes to ripen slowly and fully, resulting in well-balanced wines celebrated for their finesse. Dão’s Jaen offers a delicate interplay of strawberry and cherry flavors, floral undertones, firm tannins, and a refreshing minerality. These wines, often with promising aging potential, underscore Dão’s distinctive terroir.

Common flower aromas in wine
Terpenes in wine impart floral aromas.

In-Depth Knowledge

Take a deep dive into understanding Mencía.

Terpene-tastic

Mencía is notable for its high terpene content. Terpenes, a class of volatile organic compounds, are critical in defining a wine’s aroma. In Mencía, terpenes like geraniol, linalool, and nerol are often in abundance, contributing rose-like, sweet floral, and citrus aromas respectively, which give Mencía its distinctive aromatic complexity.

These terpenes interact with other compounds, such as anthocyanins and tannins, creating the nuanced flavor and texture of Mencía. The balance of moderate tannin levels with vibrant acidity, possibly due to a higher malic acid concentration pre-fermentation, can yield wines from light and elegant to full and structured, depending on vinification.

Vineyard environment, viticultural practices, and yeast choice for fermentation can also impact these compounds’ expression. Specific yeast strains may enhance Mencía’s terpene profile during fermentation, explaining the variability in aromatic intensity across Mencía wines. Thus, Mencía’s high terpene content, alongside the influence of terroir and winemaking practices, shapes the wine’s enticing aromatics, diverse flavor profiles, and versatility.

Written byChristine Marsiglio MW

Christine Marsiglio is Head Wine Educator and Resident Master of Wine for Folly Enterprises and Wine Folly. Christine is a certified Wine & Spirits Education Trust wine educator, a winner of the Bollinger Medal, and holds an MSc in Oenology and Viticulture from École Supérieure d'Agriculture d'Angers, France.