"The Lomba dos Ares bottling from Fedellos do Couto is a classic red wine crafted from the old-fashioned field blends found in the most ancient vineyards of Galicia. Mencía is the dominant grape in the blend in this steep vineyard, which also includes Caiño Tinto, Garnacha Tintorera and a handful of others. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented together, whole cluster, with native yeasts and aged in old foudres. The 2020 Lomba dos Ares offers up a fine, black fruity nose of dark berries, pomegranate, tree bark, dark soil tones, coffee bean, sweet botanicals and chicory. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with lovely depth at the core, excellent mineral drive and grip, ripe, moderate tannins and a long, tangy and beautifully balanced finish. These vines lie on the border of Valdeorras and Ribera Sacra, on the west side of the Bibei River, but to my palate, the wine very much has a Bierzo personality to it, despite it not officially belonging to the D.O. Fine juice. 2030-2060."