2021 Pizarra Ribeira Sacra, Adega Algueira

• Style: Refined, mineral-driven red
• Taste: Violet florals, spice, polished tannins, slate minerality
• Food: Roasted lamb, venison, mushroom stews, aged cheese
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night
• Serve: 16–18°C, 13% ABV, bone dry

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

The 2021 Pizarra announces itself with violet florals and mineral slate character that speaks to Galicia's dramatic steep-valley terroir. Layered spice and fruit intensity are held in perfect tension by bright acidity and polished tannins. Oak sits quietly in the background, warming the frame without drowning varietal identity. At 13% alcohol, this is a wine built for the table.

The Winery — Adega Algueira

Adega Algueira stands as one of Ribeira Sacra's leading voices, a family operation founded in 1996 by Fernando González Riveiro, who recognised the region's potential and restored its forgotten vineyards. Today Fernando works alongside his son Fabio, stewarding 130 plots across 30 hectares planted to local Galician varieties on slopes that plunge towards the Sil River. The 2021 blend—70% Mencía with Brancellao and Caíño from separate parcels—underwent whole-bunch fermentation with indigenous yeasts and twelve months in French oak (half barriques, half foudres), allowing the wine to develop without overwhelm. The challenging vintage of erratic rainfall and unseasonable heat demanded careful cellar work during harvest, yielding a wine of distinctive character and restraint.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a bottle that sings with roasted lamb, venison, mushroom-driven stews, and spicy preparations where its acidity cuts through heat with precision. Pair equally well with aged Manchego and BBQ. Whether you're exploring Mencía beyond the usual suspects or deepening your collection of red wines from Spain, this sits among the finest examples we've found. Ideal for Sunday lunch gatherings and intimate date-night occasions where refinement and gastronomic versatility matter.