Michelini i Mufatto

Michelini i Mufatto Family: Andres and Gerardo with son Manuel (Manu)

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Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Bierzo, Spain
People: Andres Mufatto, Gerardo Michelini, & Manuel Michelini Mufatto, Owners & Winemakers
Viticulture: Practicing Organic

Items

Michelini i Mufatto 2020 'A Merced' Mencia, Bierzo Login WA 93 In Stock
Michelini i Mufatto 2021 'En el Camino' Mencia, Bierzo Login WA 93+ In Stock

Michelini i Mufatto is the family enterprise of Andrea Mufatto, Gerardo Michelini and their son, Manuel Michelini. The three share a common vision aimed at making wines guided by an approach based on respect, purity and accuracy, implemented into three terroirs: the Uco Valley (Argentina), Bierzo (Spain) and Maldonado (Uruguay). Mother, father and son share a way to interpret a natural environment and its fruits, involving the thorough quest for the essence of each terrain’s character.

Andrea Mufatto and Gerardo Michelini fell in love with the region of Bierzo, and specifically with some forgotten areas of Ponferrada, such as Valdecañada and Ozuela. They found old vineyards of great potential there, and in 2015 they began making wines that shortly afterwards captivated wine lovers and critics around the world.

Michelini and Mufatto make their Bierzo wines based on the characteristic regional varieties (Mencía, Godello, Palomino, Merenzao, Brancellao, Garnacha Tintorera and Doña Blanca), relying on goblet-pruned vineyards older than 80 years, planted on soils composed of slate stone and clay in the area’s cold climate (which is due to the fact that vineyards are planted on the northern side of the mountains). All vineyards are organic and focus on biodynamics, for the purposes of achieving the best plant expression.

In the cellar, they employ traditional winemaking methods, usually involving the use of whole clusters and native yeast fermentation in clay amphorae before aging in 228-litre used Burgundy barrels and wooden foudres. This results in limited edition wines that reflect the essence of this traditional Spanish region.

Reviews

  • Michelini i Mufatto 2021 'En el Camino' Mencia, Bierzo
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 93+ (8/10/2023)

    2021 was a cold year with snow, plenty of rain and some mildew pressure that delivered a slim 2021 En el Camino, a blend of Mencía and 10% other grapes (Palomino, Doña Blanca and Alicante Bouschet) from different vineyards mostly on clay and quartz soils. It fermented with 30% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in a 50/50 combination of oak casks and stainless steel. It's very perfumed, expressive and open, elegant and balanced, fine-boned and seductive, very clean and defined.

  • Michelini i Mufatto 2020 'A Merced' Mencia, Bierzo
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 93 (8/10/2023)
    The 2020 A Merced was produced with grapes from north-facing vineyards in Ponferrada on slate and quartz soils. It fermented with 50% full clusters and matured in used 225-liter French oak barrels for 12 months. It has 13% alcohol and is a little more generous and rounder than the more angular and slim 2021. It feels more Mediterranean than the 2021, with a wild twist, notes of leather, ink and licorice, a touch of cured meat and some dusty tannins.