Paixar 2004 Bierzo D.O.

Paixar 2004
Region: Bierzo D.O.
Winery: PAIXAR, BODEGAS Y VINEDOS

Grapes: 100% Mencia
Vintage: 2002
Color: Red

In 2000, Alejandro Luna, Gregory Perez, and Eduardo and Alberto Garcia began the Paixar project through the acquisition and leasing of tiny parcels of vineyards in the Dragonte village (population 60) in the Bierzo region. Vines are planted directly in weathered slate of different colors and are between 50 and 80+ years old; typically producing about one pound of fruit per vine. The low-vigor, old vines produce fruit with particularly concentrated aromas and powerful, fine tannins. The vineyards are between 700 and 900 meters on south facing slopes, a key factor in the slow and even ripening of the grapes. Due to the altitude, harvest is typically 15 days later than the rest of Bierzo.

Hand-harvested into small boxes, cluster sorted, cold pre-fermentation maceration, native yeast fermentation. This wine was aged for 16 months in new French oak barrels and bottled without any filtration. Harvested at 20 hectoliters/hectare.

Reviews
Wine Spectator, 89 points.
This expressive red shows a nice mix of concentration and balance, with ripe plum and cola flavors, well-integrated tannins and intriguing notes of coffee, mineral and spice that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2010. 250 cases made.
Issue 311, April '06

Wine & Spirits Magazine, 91 points.
Paixar is a collaboration between Alejandro Luna of Luna Beberide winery; French vintner Gregory Perez; and Eduardo and Alberto Garcia, sons of vetran producer Mariano Garcia. They’ve crafted this 2002 from old vines in El Dragonte, one of the highest vineyards in Bierzo, and it captures the schist of the soil in its mineral aromas, blackberry flavors and dark cherry notes. Its high acidity enhances its nervous texture, but it will show best after at least five years in the cellar.
Issue 253, June '06

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 90 points.
Full medium bright ruby. Crunchy dark berries, violet, bonfire and cinnamon on the nose. Dense, suave and perfumed in the mouth, with sappy flavors of crushed dark berries, black cherry and violet. Finishes very long, juicy and aromatic, with chewy but fine tannins and considerable sweet oak. An excellent if rather oaky example of mencia, built to age.
Issue 122, Sept/Oct '05

The Wine Advocate, 90 points.
Opaque purple-tinged 2002 offers a superb aromatic display of blue fruits, crushed rocks, flowers, and a hint of new oak. Abundant complexity, excellent intensity, medium to full body, and a pure, long, delineated mouthfeel suggest it should be consumed over the next 7-8 years.
Issue 159, June '05

Wine Review Online, 93 points.
If you've never heard of the Mencia grape, and are resistant to the notion that anything this obscure could make truly great wine, this wine will prove a revelation to you. It is very dark and densely concentrated, yet it has real grace as well. The fruit shows intense dark berry notes, and these are coupled with a significant but well-measured dose of smoky, spicy oak. A graphite aromatic note provides an accent that gets the wine off to a great start, and lovely mineral notes in the finish bring it to a brilliant conclusion.
Issue October 3, '06

Saveur Magazine
A Moderately rich, chalky, and showing a cherry flavor with white pepper underneath. Light in color but intense, with dusty tannins. From an article titled "Bierzo Rising Meet some of Spain’s best new red wines"