Lousas is the workhorse of Envínate in Galicia. Their "village wine". Besides their top volcanic wines in Tenerife, they also have beautiful vineyards in Ribeira Sacra, located between 400 and 600 m altitude. The Lousas is the Spanish alternative to village wines from Burgundy, which today often cost many times as much as this Spaniard. All vineyards are in biodynamics.
Vinification
All vineyards are between 25 and 70 years old for this wine, from several small plots from different villages in Ribeira Sacra. Often very steep slopes, of both granite and slate. Very low yields of the different grape varieties planted interchangeably, as always in old vineyards. Mencía accounts for about 80% of the total blend. Depending on the year, between 70% and 100% is not destemmed. Maceration and fermentation on cement cuves followed by élevage on large wooden fouders. Non-interventionist, so no use of products nor sulphite during vinification, only before bottling. Maturation of about 10 to 14 months on these wooden fouders.
Storage potential
Drink as from: 2027
Best moment: 2028-2031
Until: 2034
To serve
May be best decanted in its youth, as sometimes a bit reductive, depending on the moment. Pour in a Burgundy glass.
Trial analysis
Pale red in the glass, brilliance of red fruit. In the nose nice minerality with important vertical dimension, interwoven with pretty red fruit, woodland strawberries, red currant, blood orange and some violets. On the palate, racy. 2022 is a nice Atlantic year, unlike other regions in Spain. Accessible yet with nice complexity and length.
Flavor profile
Wood
None
Aged in wood barrels
Heavily aged in wood barrels
Acidity
Low acidity
Balanced
High acidity
Fruitiness
Low fruitiness
Balanced
High fruitiness
Structure
Elegant
Balanced
Full-bodied