Raul Perez La Vizcaína - Bierzo Lomas de Valtuille 'Las Gundiñas' 2021

La Vizcaína is a project from Raúl Pérez that explores the hillside crus around his hometown of Vatuille de Abajo. Four reds and one white, all from single vineyard sites, are produced under the name, all from vines with over fifty years of average age (some much older). 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. The rich varietal diversity found in Galicia is due in large part to the famous Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint James in the town of Santiago de Compostela, the earliest references to which date back to the 9th century. The monks who made the journey would often carry vine cuttings from their home regions in their packs to offer as gifts to the Spanish monasteries that would put them up along the way. This is certainly the explanation for the preponderance of Trousseau found throughout northwestern Spain. Depending on the particular region (and often on the person you are talking to), the grape is known variously as Bastardo, María Ordoñez, Domingo Pérez, Merenzao, Godello Tinto and Verdejo Negro, but ampelographic studies have shown it to be genetically identical to the Trousseau found predominately in the Jura region of France. Other red grapes found scattered around the old vineyards of Bierzo include Sousón, Alicante Bouschet, Brancellao and Caiño. Curiously, Mencía and Alicante Bouschet are the only varieties approved by the D.O., hence the practice of simply labeling the wines as Mencía.

Las Gundiñas was planted in 1910 directly in the path of the Camino de Santiago on deep clay soils mixed with eroded organic material. A mencía-dominant field blend with an important contribution of Doña Blanca (white). Fermented whole-cluster in neutral oak vat with long post-fermentation maceration. Raised for one year in neutral 225L and 500L barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.

"Sleek and silky, with a dark mix of black currant, blackberry paste and damson plum fruit wrapping around dense, fine-grained tannins. This is underscored by minerally tar and iron accents, while lovely aromas of mountain herbs, anise, paprika and graphite offer a fragrant overtone that lingers on the fresh, sculpted finish. Best from 2026 through 2036. 500 cases made, 250 cases imported." - 94 Points, Wine Spectator

"The 2021 La Vizcaína Las Gundiñas has a slightly earthy touch and is a variable wine that feels quite harmonious and clean, as it's from a plot that sometimes suffers in cooler years. They are going to change the vinification of this plot to achieve more precision. They used 100% full clusters and matured it in well-seasoned, neutral 500-liter oak vats. It is cleaner and more precise this year. 5,500 bottles were filled in May 2020." - 94 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Raul Perez

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla y León

Varietal: Mencia

Appellation: Bierzo

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml