92pts View from the Cellar – 2017 vintage

The Finca la Cuesta bottling of Mencía from Luna Beberide is produced from decidedly older vines, as these vineyards are sixty years of age and their soils, though still based on clay and limestone, also include plenty of slate. This wine is aged for ten months in older, neutral French oak prior to bottling. The 2017 version is excellent on both the nose and palate, reflecting the more powerful personality of the vintage in its aromatic constellation of cassis, black raspberry, espresso, woodsmoke, graphite, a complex foundation of soil and a topnote of anise. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and nicely plush on the attack, with a fine core and soil signature, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and fine length and grip on the complex finish. The lower acids of the vintage here are apparent in comparison to the 2018 Mencía, but the balance is still impeccable and this wine is going to age beautifully. It is certainly approachable today and quite easy to drink, but another layer of complexity is bound to emerge with some bottle age. 2020-2050.

91pts Vinous– 2017 vintage

Deep ruby. Intense blackberry, cherry pit and licorice aromas are enlivened by a suggestion of smoky minerals. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering chewy dark berry and bitter cherry flavors that open up and become sweeter with air. Shows very good depth as well as energy and finishes sappy and long, with building florality and fine-grained tannins that sneak in late. (Aged for a year in 50% new and 50% used French oak barrels.)
Drink 2019-2024

90pts Wine Advocate– 2017 vintage

I had two vintages to taste of the Mencía cuvée that used to be called Finca La Cuesta but has been renamed as the 2017 Finca Luna Beberide. Tasting it side by side with the 2016, you could notice the differences of both vintages, where the wines from 2017 have more color and higher ripeness. This is also more primary and a little grapey. 50,000 bottles.
Drink Date 2019-2022