Augalevada 'Mercenario Tinto' Ribeiro 2020

Iago Garrido is the person behind this winery located next to the Monastery of San Clodio, in the heart of Ribeiro. At Fazenda Agrícola Augalevada, Iago works the land organically, following biodynamic methods. The area's characteristic granite soil is a critical influence on the profile of his wines, which are crisp, fresh, and easy to drink.  

Most of Iago’s vineyards are farmed organically and his estate vineyard is farmed biodynamically. The majority of the grapes come from the Manolo de Traveso vineyard, which is rich in clay (of the non-water swelling type, unlike those of the Côte d’Or, for example) with granite bedrock on some of the highest vineyards in the Miño River Valley. Some of the Treixadura comes from the Arnoia Valley on a decomposed granite vineyard and the Albariño from the lower Miño area in Filgueira. There are other small parcels scattered through the three main valleys, Arnoia, Avia and Miño. 

When the grapes for Mercenario Tinto have been manually harvested, they are trodden very gently and left to macerate for 35 days. They then ferment spontaneously with native yeasts before aging 7 months in small barrels. The result is a juicy red wine with aromas of wild berries, herbal and mineral notes. Fresh and light, with lively acidity, a fruity mid-palate and a long finish.