The approachable 2020 Cepas Viejas reveals contained ripeness and moderate oak and alcohol (13.5%), making it easy to drink and understand, perhaps a little tannic and in need of some food. 120,000 bottles produced.

After some ups and downs, the 2016 Cepas Viejas seems to be recovering the quality of yesteryear. The oak is much better integrated, the fruit is at the forefront, the aromas are clean and the texture is fine, with round tannins and very tasty flavors. It's good to see this wine coming back to what it once was. 120,000 bottles produced.

Not so different from the Baltos, the 2015 Cepas Viejas is a pleasant and approachable Mencía with a moderate influence from the oak. The palate is medium-bodied, juicy, sleek, with unnoticeable tannins and a slight bitter note in the finish. Easy to drink, showing good typicity. 120,000 bottles produced.

The biggest volume is for the 2013 Cepas Viejas (old vines), although the cold and late 2013 was considerably shorter than previous vintages with some 110,000 bottles (versus some 180,000 in the past). Fermentation was in stainless steel with malolactic in barrique, and nine to 12 months in French and American (60/40) oak barrels, some 35% of which were new. Again, the oak feels much better integrated and the wine shows fresher, no doubt helped by the style of the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied, juicy, sleek, with unnoticeable tannins and a slight bitter note in the finish. Very pleasant. There are four different lots of this wine.

The 2011 Cepas Viejas is pure Mencía from old, head-pruned vines in the village of Valtuille de Arriba fermented in stainless steel and aged for nine months in used French and American oak barrels. It still has a nose dominated by smoky bacon and sweet spice notes over a core of ripe fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with some grainy tannins and roasted flavors. It ends slightly bitter and in a commercial style. 180,000 bottles produced.