2023 Varney Wines Mencia

95 points & Top 100 Wines of 2023
"Bright colour; a haunting herbal/dark cupboard bouquet... and that Varney touch of freshness on the finish."
- James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)

Not as much Mencia among the vineyards of McLaren Vale, as, say Touriga - that seems to the grape 'de jour'. But more wines like this elegant, lacy beauty from Alan Varney and lots of this native Spanish grape might find its way in to the ground.

From a small plot in Seaview, this is a bright, lifted, medium-bodied red with some exotic spice and game meat aromatics.

Nine days on skins, short time in Burgundy barrels then bottled. Just 88 dozen bottles made. Not sure how much drinking that works out to per day...