Luna Beberide, Bierzo (Castilla y León, Spain) Mencía 2015

 I’m quite sure that I’ve tasted every vintage of Finca la Cuesta ever made at Luna Beberide, and there’s no question in my mind that this is the best of all of them.  In fact, it was as good as some vintages as Luna Beberide’s "Art" bottling of Mencía, which is a wine that rings up at more than twice this price.  As an aside, lest you conclude that I’ve lost my critical edge, the 2015 regular, un-oaked "LB" bottling of Mencía was very disappointing, especially in view of this being a vintage that winemakers in Bierzo are quite excited about.  There’s always a chance that I had an unrepresentative bottle of 2015 LB, so I’ll be looking for another bottle to try.  What you should be looking for is this terrific Finca la Cuesta, which is an object lesson in Mencía’s uncanny ability be be fresh and bright while also showing real depth and guts.  The faint violet aromatic topnote is lovely, and subtle scents of spices also lend interest.  The wine is really medium-bodied, but "punches above its weight" with excellent fruit intensity and an impressively long finish.  For $22, this is undoubtedly one of the strongest values I’ve tasted during 2017, and a wine that I’d pour with pride in my home regardless of who was at my table.  Indeed, King Felipe VI, should you drop by, I promise to crack open a bottle of this for you.