Are you a fan of Trousseau from the Jura?
It's impossible to ignore the incredible rise in popularity of Jura wines in recent years, both white and red.
Personally, I'm a big fan of both white and red wines from the Jura. Just like Luis Gutiérrez, who, incidentally, reviews both Spanish wines and wines from the Jura for R. Parker.
When it comes to reds, I'm particularly fond of the region's typical grape variety, Trousseau. And as it happens, it's also one of my favourite grapes… in Galicia!
Because you'll find it there too, both in Ribeira Sacra (where it's called Merenzao) and in Monterrei and Bierzo (where it's known as Bastardo).
It's been a while since we last talked about Ribeira Sacra, Galicia's most centrally located appellation, home to some of the most impressive vineyards in Europe. They bring to mind the steep slopes along Germany's Moselle River. Here too, the soils are mainly slate, and the vineyards plunge steeply towards the Sil River.
It's hardly surprising that such fantastic wines with a distinctly Atlantic character are produced here!
Of course, the best-known grape variety in Ribeira Sacra is the now widely recognised Mencía.
But much less widely planted, and far less familiar, is Merenzao (known as Bastardo in Monterrei and Bierzo).
Small berries with thick skins that nevertheless produce surprisingly little colour (just like Trousseau in the Jura!), but what an exciting aromatic character!
So delicate and fragrant, yet with plenty of body and a long finish!
Magic grape!
And for the true connoisseurs: today we're talking about “Risco” from “Adega Algueira”.
I say true connoisseurs because it's been almost two years since we last received any Risco. And last time, our stock sold out almost immediately. If you're a fan of this style of wine, it's simply irresistible. No overwhelming power, just understated elegance. Exactly what we love!
Another advantage: we've just received the 2021 vintage. Bottled in late 2024, this wine has already had plenty of time to develop further in the bottle. A luxury that wines of this kind rarely enjoy these days. And we're delighted about that! What's more, for the first time, this Risco isn't made from 100% Trousseau or Merenzao, but also includes a small proportion of Brancellao, another typical grape variety from the region, and an even lesser-known one…
See what R. Parker has to say about this Algueira Risco 2021:
93+/100
“The 2021 Risco is no longer a varietal Merenzao, as it also has some 15% Brancellao in the blend, a variety that is a little rustic and marks the blends. Both varieties come from the lieu-dit Cortezada (La Abeleda). It fermented with 25% full clusters, foot trodden and with indigenous yeasts, in open-top barrels and matured in used 225-liter French oak barrels for 23 months. It's a ripe and powerful red blend that reached 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.5 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It feels more open than the new varietal Merenzao, more expressive and with good freshness and slightly grainier tannins.”
What's more, 2021 is a vintage built for the long run: “The 2021 wines might have more longevity; they started closed and needed time, but it's good they are releasing them now.”