# Gaba do Xil Mencía (NV)

- **Producer:** Ladeiras do Xil
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Mencía
- **Region:** Galicia, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €15
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, violet, white pepper, plum

## About this wine

Gaba do Xil is a project created by renowned winemakers Telmo Rodríguez and Pablo Eguzkiza under the Ladeiras do Xil estate in the Valdeorras region of Galicia, northwestern Spain. Established in 2002, the initiative focuses on recovering historic, steep terraced vineyards along the Sil River valley. The name 'Xil' refers to the ancient Celtic origin of the Sil River. Grapes are sourced primarily from high-altitude plots in eastern municipalities such as Larouco, Santa Cruz, and Las Ermitas, where granite and slate soils define the local terroir.

## Interesting facts

- 'Xil' is derived from the ancient Celtic name for the Sil River, along whose steep terraced slopes the vineyards sit.
- Winemaker Telmo Rodríguez established the project to rescue ancient, abandoned Galician vineyard terraces.
- The wine is aged completely in stainless steel for 12 months to maintain crisp slate minerality without oak influence.

## Food pairing

Mencía's lively acidity, fine-grained tannins, and vibrant red fruit profile make it extremely versatile at the table. It cuts through savory fats in duck, pork, and lamb while harmonizing with earthy elements like mushrooms and cured cheeses.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested in small boxes from vineyards planted at elevations between 400 and 500 meters, cultivated using traditional and organic practices. The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. To preserve pure fruit characteristics, delicate floral nuances, and slate minerality, the wine is aged for 12 months entirely in stainless steel tanks without oak contact.