Bodegas Raúl Pérez Bierzo Ultreia Mata Los Pardos Mencía 2020

	Pure, oak-matured blend based on mencía
	From the Mata Los Pardos plot, with 80 year old vines
	Finesse and depth as only Pérez can

Description

Good news for fans of Raúl Pérez's brilliant Bierzo wines: his iconic Ultreia range has been expanded! It now includes the Mata Los Pardos cuvée, bottled exclusively for us.

Raúl makes it from predominantly Mencía grapes grown on the eponymous plot with sandy and clay soil. The vines are around 80 years old and produce low yields. This gives the wine complexity and concentration.

Pérez hand-harvests the grapes when they are perfectly ripe but still possess sufficient fresh acidity. Once crushed, he ferments the grapes, leaving the skins in the juice for an extended period to enhance depth. Finally, he ages the wine in 500- and 2000-liter barrels for a balanced oak character.

The result is a beautiful, refined red Bierzo, with more complexity and aging potential than the cult Saint-Jaques, yet more accessible and affordable at a younger age than the luxury crus from the Vizcaína range. Unmistakably Pérez, it pairs wonderfully with lamb, turkey, or hearty stews.