Bodegas Raul Perez Bierzo La Vizcaína La Vitoriana 2023

	From visionary winemaker Raúl Pérez
	From La Vitoriana, the most beautiful cru of Valtuille
	Young, wonderful with grilled meat, matured, perfect with game.

Mencia & Bastardo

Deep red in color, refined aroma with floral nuances, herbs, flint, and a touch of oak. The elegant flavor structure finishes aromatically with mild tannins. This complex red wine, served young, pairs perfectly with spicy lamb or beef; after a few years, it pairs wonderfully with game.

Raul Perez with his beautiful wines from Bierzo

If anyone has put Bierzo's unique terroir on the map, it's Raúl Pérez. In his native Valtuille de Abajo, he produces not only his iconic Ultreia series but also the magnificent La Vizcaína series. These are bottlings of the crus around Valtuille, all from vines at least 50 years old.

La Vitoriana is considered Valtuille's finest cru. The vineyard, planted in 1890, comprises approximately four hectares, 1.8 of which are owned by Raúl. La Vitoriana has a compact clay soil and is planted primarily with Mencia and Bastardo grapes, along with a mix of Garnacha Tintorera, Doña Blanco, and Palomino.

The vinification process is largely the same for all wines in the La Vizcaína series. After harvest, fermentation with whole bunches of grapes takes place in oak barrels. Raúl's signature is the relatively long maceration of the skins, lasting some sixty to ninety days. After this, the wine is aged for another year in used wooden barrels. Bottling takes place without filtration or fining.

The end result is hard to capture in words. Pure, intense, powerful, and exquisitely refined all at once. A truly magnificent Mencia blend that you absolutely must experience. Drink it between two and ten years after the harvest, ideally with a delicious meat or game dish.