Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 2 to 10 years from vintage.
vintage2 yrs10 yrs12 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: smoke, redcurrant

Palate: light frame, sweet fresh tannin, persistent length

Cherry red with a violet rim, persistent on the nose with smoked notes and redcurrant, light in the mouth over a base of sweet fresh tannin.

What it pairs with

  • Smoked pork ribs
    The smoke note answers the cure directly.
  • Grilled beef skewers
    Sweet fresh tannin carries the char without hardening it.
  • Aged cheese with quince
    Redcurrant fruit meets the quince sweetness.

History

Xestal draws on silty limestone soils at San Miguel de Arganza between 650 and 750 metres, cropped at 8,000 kg per hectare. It ferments open in stainless steel and completes malolactic in French oak, where it stays twelve months.

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Gancedo · visiting guide
Grapes
Mencía (100%)
Classification
DO Bierzo
Oak
Twelve months in French oak, malolactic in barrel
ABV
14.5%
Production
8,000 bottles
Price
€13-17 at retail
Drinking window
2-10 from vintage

Frequently asked about Xestal

What does Xestal taste like?

Cherry red with a violet rim. The nose is persistent with smoked notes and redcurrant, and the palate is light with a base of sweet, fresh tannin.

How long is Xestal aged?

Twelve months in French oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation completed in barrel.

When should I drink Xestal?

Drink between two and ten years from vintage.

What food pairs with Xestal?

Smoked pork ribs, grilled beef skewers, or an aged cheese with quince paste.

Tags

dry high acid medium body medium tannin medium term menc a mood rustic mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion winter old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with pork pairs with red meat price everyday still red value pick

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