Raul Perez La Vizcaina Tinto 'La Vitoriana' 2020

Country: Spain

Region: Bierzo

Type: Red Wine

Grape: Mencia

La Vizcaína is a relatively new project from Raúl Pérez that explores the hillside crus around his hometown of Vatuille de Abajo. Four reds and one white are produced under the name, all from vines with over fifty years of average age. Though all the red wines Raúl produces in the Bierzo D.O. are labelled as 100% Mencía, they all in fact contain significant quantities of other local grapes, including Bastardo (Trousseau), Sousón, Alicante Bouschet, Brancellao and Caiño. Mencía and Alicante Bouschet are the only varieties approved by the D.O., hence the practice of simply labeling the wines as Mencía.

Organic farming. Whole cluster fermentation in large oak vats. 60-90 day maceration followed by one year of aging in used 225 and 500-liter barrels. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Aromas of spicy violets and ground pepper. Crushed vivid wild berries and lavender on the palate, and a slight loamy minerality.  The fine tannins gently cascade on the lengthy and stylish finish.