An old-vine Mencía, the 2017 Bancales Olvidados reveals a dark purple color and a juicy, quite primary personality—fruit-driven and with nicely integrated oak. It feels quite similar to the rest of the range, and I don't see enough nuance, complexity or depth or even varietal character. Again, it's clean and neatly made, pleasant and easy to drink, with a soft and tender texture. 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2018.

The 2015 Bancales Olvidados, a varietal Mencía from older vineyards, shows much better integrated oak than the 2012 I tasted last time. There are notes of wild berries with a touch of beef blood and iron. It aged for ten months in used French oak barrels and stainless steel. The palate is medium-bodied, balanced and fresh, with textured tannins. 6,384 bottles produced. As a reference point I tasted the 2009, which is nuanced, complex and evolving magnificently. In a way, I believe the 2015 has some similarities with the 2009.

The rather oaky 2012 Bancales Olvidados, a varietal Mencía from older vineyards in different subzones of Ribeira Sacra, was fermented following a similar process as the other wines, in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and a soft vinification. The élevage lasted ten months and was in 228- and 500-liter French oak barrels, which might have been rather new, as they seemed to have marked the wine quite a lot. The palate is rather light, medium-bodied, with marked acidity. Easy to drink, in a slightly international way. 4,881 bottles produced.

The 2009 Ponte da Boga Bancales Olvidados comes from the subzone of Manzaneda and Quiroga on schist soils and is aged in used French oak. It has a taut bouquet of blackberry, wild hedgerow and a touch of flint, while the palate has a sweet entry, offering black cherries, loganberry and a twist of lemon peel on the focused finish. Fine. Drink now-2016. Adega Ponte da Boga is situated in Terra de Caldelas along the River Sil and the focus here is mainly upon red Mencia grapes. This appears to be a strong, reliable portfolio of wines. No known US importer.