The serious 2018 Mengoba Mencía Alicante Bouschet shows the potential of 2018 to produce very fresh reds that are both approachable and deep, complex but easy to understand. I think he has come to a blend that shows the two grapes completely integrated and improving each other. The nose is subtle, and the palate has faint herbal, pungent and persistent flavors, almost salty too. It fermented in 5,000-liter oak vats at low temperature with indigenous yeasts and matured there for one year followed by six months in stainless steel to finish polishing the edges. It's powerful, sleek and elegant. - LG