Opening the wide range of reds, the 2013 Castroventosa is a young, un-oaked, stainless steel fermented, slightly reductive style of Mencía from destemmed grapes from the village of Valtuille de Abajo. After some aeration it starts to develop notes of violets and licorice on a supple palate with fine-grained tannins and moderate acidity. A young, juicy red for the table at great price.

The 2012 Castro Ventosa Mencia Tinto is the current vintage of the young red from the winery. The wine spent its last two months before bottling in 5,000-liter oak vats to avoid some of the reductive aromas of the Mencia grape. Mencia has a tendency to get reduced in bottle, so many wines, especially the ones that have not benefited from slow oxygenation in wood, benefit from extended aeration once opened, as is the case here. It’s a wine built on the fruit. Drink 2013-2017. Castro Ventosa is the family winery of Raul Perez in the village of Valtuille de Abajo. He was fully dedicated to his own projects between 2003 and 2010, but since then he has returned home and is there again working with his young nephews, continuing with the viticulture tradition of the family, documented since 1752. Over generations they have amassed an impressive collection of vineyards that today add up to around 60 hectares, most of them planted with vines that are over 50 years old. Imported by Boutique Wine Collection, Philadelphia, PA; tel. (914) 954-6583; www.boutiquewines.info

The four wines from Casto Ventosa are 100% Mencia. The lineup starts with the 2005 Tinto, a straightforward, juicy, unoaked Mencia with vibrant raspberry and cherry aromas. This medium-bodied wine is plump, forward, tasty, and has no hard edges. Drink this excellent value over the next 12-18 months. Importer: Bryce McNamee, Boutique Wine Collection, Philadelphia, PA; tel. (914) 954- 6583

From the indigenous Mencia grape, the value-priced 2003 Tinto Mencia exhibits a deep ruby color along with a bouquet of red and black fruits intermixed with a hint of flowers. Soft, round, and elegant, this medium-bodied, cold climate offering will drink well for 2-3 years. Importer: Boutique Wine Collection, New York; tel. (914) 954-6583

The 2001 Tinto Mencia (sporting a nearly impossible to read label) possesses a medium to dark ruby color as well as a complex nose of raspberries, cherries, currants, flowers, and earth. It is an elegant, medium-bodied effort that promises enjoyable drinking for another 3-4 years. Importer: Boutique Wine Collection, New York; tel. (914) 954-6583