Régoa TN 2019

RÉGOA TN 2019

Régoa is a wine project located in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra, the brainchild of José María Prieto Fernández, a doctor by profession but deeply connected to wine since childhood. His earliest memories are linked to family harvests in A Teixeira, an emotional connection to the land that would eventually materialize into his own project. Régoa was thus born with a strong local identity, situated in the municipality of Sober, in the heart of the Sil River canyon, and takes its name from the traditional Galician landscape associated with water and cultivation.

The project is developed entirely on the San Martiño estate, 11 hectares of vineyards cultivated on steep terraces (up to 80%) facing south and with direct access to the Sil River. It is a prime example of heroic viticulture, where the work is done by hand and the extreme conditions favor low yields and high concentration. The poor, well-drained slate and sandstone soils, along with vines over 30 years old, and a significant portion over 50, create a terroir that imparts tension, depth, and an Atlantic character to the wines.

Régoa's philosophy is based on absolute control of the vineyard (all the grapes are estate-grown) and minimal intervention both in the vineyard and the winery. They work exclusively with native Galician varieties: Mencía, Brancellao, Caiño, and Sousón, using spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts, long macerations, and very limited use of sulfites. Many of their wines are neither clarified nor filtered, and they opt for aging in French oak barrels, which provides structure without compromising the wine's origin. This approach results in wines that are more structured, profound, and age-worthy than are typical for the region, moving away from the lighter, traditional profile of the Ribeira Sacra.

Within its range, Régoa distinguishes between wines that are more immediately drinkable and others clearly oriented towards aging, such as Régoa TN, Esencial, and Iria. In this sense, the project has helped demonstrate that Ribeira Sacra wines can evolve for years in the bottle, maintaining freshness and complexity, positioning itself as a cult winery among enthusiasts of the most distinctive Atlantic wines.

2019 Vintage: This vintage presents a balanced profile within the Atlantic character of the region, with sufficient ripeness to provide structure while maintaining acidity and freshness. In Régoa TN, this translates into a wine with tension, verticality, and a clear aging potential.

Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes sourced entirely from the San Martiño vineyard. Fermentation for approximately 30 days with 2–3 daily pump-overs. Malolactic fermentation and aging for 7 months in 300-liter Allier oak barrels. It is neither clarified nor filtered, and only minimal amounts of sulfur dioxide are used.

Varieties: 80% Mencía, 10% Brancellao (Alvarello), 8% Caiño, and 2% Sousón.

Tasting Notes: Precise red fruit that dominates over the oak, with bottle aging where the polyphenols lengthen and round out, progressively integrating the oak influence. A very pronounced Atlantic profile, with slate minerality, lively acidity, and firm yet fine tannins. With aeration, nuances of laurel and honeycomb, characteristic of Brancellao, emerge. It is initially a reserved wine, with a vertical, elegant, and profound style, and great potential for bottle aging.

Best before: 2026-2035. Alcohol: 13%, Total Acidity: 5.2g, pH: 3.45, Acidity: 1.2g Volatile Acidity: 0.60, Free Sulfur Dioxide: 19, Total Sulfur Dioxide: 62

Production: 5,000 bottles.

Pairings: Ideal with Galician red meats, small game, traditional slow-cooked stews, and dishes with mushrooms or rich sauces. Its structure and freshness also make it very interesting with distinctive Atlantic cuisine. Served between 15°C and 17°C, it best appreciates its depth, tension, and mineral expression.