Rajat Parr’s Rare Pacific Mencia
2022 Phelan Farm Mencia SLO Coast
Rajat Parr didn't just plant Pinot Noir; he planted a vision of Galicia. When Parr looked at the steep, fog-drenched hills of Cambria, he saw a mirror image of Ribeira Sacra, the dramatic Spanish region famous for the Mencía grape. He bet that the SLO Coast’s cold, Pacific climate would allow this rare variety to thrive just as it does in Spain. He was right. The 2022 Phelan Farm Mencia is one of the most exciting red wines coming out of California today. Farmed regeneratively with zero chemica…
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Rajat Parr’s Vision: A passion project from the world-famous sommelier and winemaker who champions obscure varieties.
Rare in California: One of the few plantings of pure Mencía in the United States.
$49.99
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Tasting notes
Aroma
High-toned and spicy. It bursts with scents of cracked white pepper, wild raspberry, and dried herbs. There is a distinct graphite minerality that slices through the fruit.
Palate
Fresh, crunchy, and electric. The palate is light to medium-bodied but packed with energy. Flavors of tart pomegranate and cranberry mix with a savory, roasted herb quality. The tannins are dusty and firm, providing a structure that craves food.
Red Wine Body Profile
Light
Bold
Body Profile
Delicate
35/100 Intensity
Light
Bold
35.0/100
Feather-light
Delicate
Lifted
Structured
Deep
Grapes
100% Mencia
ABV
12.0%
Serving
47–52°F
Window
2025–2045
In Detail
The cult Spanish variety grown in the freezing SLO Coast
Rajat Parr didn't just plant Pinot Noir; he planted a vision of Galicia.
When Parr looked at the steep, fog-drenched hills of Cambria, he saw a mirror image of Ribeira Sacra, the dramatic Spanish region famous for the Mencía grape. He bet that the SLO Coast’s cold, Pacific climate would allow this rare variety to thrive just as it does in Spain. He was right.
The 2022 Phelan Farm Mencia is one of the most exciting red wines coming out of California today. Farmed regeneratively with zero chemical inputs—using sprays made from nettles and willow bark foraged on the estate—this wine is vibrant and untamed. It captures the wild, herbal essence of the coastal scrub. If you love the peppery, floral crunch of a great Cabernet Franc or the structure of a Cru Beaujolais, this is the bottle that will make you rethink what California wine can be.
