spanish wines - Bierzo

Moncerbal is one of Palacios' greatest crus. The vineyard has an impressive location on a sheer slope of slate.

Moncerbal is one of Palacios' greatest crus. The vineyard has an impressive location on a sheer slope of slate.

Entry-level wine from this house. Honest, tasty and super-fruity. Pétalos = flower petals. Mainly from vineyards in and around Corullón. Mainly Mencía, but also quite a few unknown white and red grape varieties from the region due to the use of vieilles vignes. In 2021, it was named the best red wine in the world for value for money by Wine Spectator.

Entry-level wine from this house. Honest, tasty and super-fruity. Pétalos = flower petals. Mainly from vineyards in and around Corullón. Mainly Mencía, but also quite a few unknown white and red grape varieties from the region due to the use of vieilles vignes.

La Vizcaína is a project by Raul Pérez where all wines are made from separate vines, with different orientations and soils. La Vizcaína derives from the name given to Raul's father (El Vizcaino, the Basque), also a oenologist, and who died young. For this project, Raul is assisted by his niece Nerea Pérez. Clay soils, the vines are north-facing and sit at an elevation of 500 metres – the coolest area of Valtuille de Abajo. The vines are 25 years old, much younger than those of ‘Valtuille Rapolao’ (100 years).

La Vizcaína is a project by Raul Pérez where all wines are made from separate vines, with different orientations and soils. La Vizcaína derives from the name given to Raul's father (El Vizcaino, the Basque), also a oenologist, and who died young. For this project, Raul is assisted by his niece Nerea Pérez. Clay soils, the vines are north-facing and sit at an elevation of 500 metres – the coolest area of Valtuille de Abajo. The vines are 25 years old, much younger than those of ‘Valtuille Rapolao’ (100 years).

La Vizcaína is a project by Raúl Pérez in which the wines are classified according to their origin, terroir, orientation to the sun, etc... La Vizcaína is the nickname given by the locals to Raúl's father, who was also an oenologist, but who died young. Raúl is assisted in this venture by his niece Nerea Pérez. ‘La del Vivo’ is a rare white wine made primarily from old Godello vines planted in 1916. The parcels behind this wine are rooted in sandy and clay soils. Located in the "Loma de Poulosa" plot at over 600 metres altitude, the vineyard benefits from an optimal exposure – which explains the aromatic richness both on the nose and on the palate.

La Vizcaína is a project by Raul Pérez where all wines are made from separate vines, with different orientations and soils. La Vizcaína derives from the name given to Raul's father (El Vizcaino, the Basque), also a oenologist, and who died young. For this project, Raul is assisted by his niece, Nerea Pérez. Made from old vines aged 80 to 100 years, east-facing and planted in the "Loma de Poulosa" plot. The soil is clay with pebbles. The addition of 10% Alicante Bouschet brings a vibrant acidity.

La Vizcaína is a project by Raul Pérez where all wines are made from separate vines, with different orientations and soils. La Vizcaína derives from the name given to Raul's father (El Vizcaino, the Basque), also a oenologist, and who died young. For this project, Raul is assisted by his niece, Nerea Pérez. La Vitoriana was planted in the 1890s on red clay and alluvial stones, and benefits from various exposures thanks to the curved shape of the vineyards. The blend is predominantly Mencía, with Bastardo (Trousseau), Doña Blanca and Palomino. The vineyard’s name comes from the former owners, Víctor and Anna – hence: Vitoriana.

La Vizcaína is a project by Raul Pérez where all wines are made from separate vines, with different orientations and soils. La Vizcaína derives from the name given to Raul's father (El Vizcaino, the Basque), also a oenologist, and who died young. For this project, Raul is assisted by his niece Nerea Pérez. Thanks to its flatter topography, clay soils, and southeast exposure, Las Gundinas never struggles with ripeness – a sensual, generous wine that commands attention.

La Vizcaína is a project by Raul Pérez where all wines are made from separate vines, with different orientations and soils. La Vizcaína derives from the name given to Raul's father (El Vizcaino, the Basque), also a oenologist, and who died young. For this project, Raul is assisted by his niece Nerea Pérez. Thanks to its flatter topography, clay soils, and southeast exposure, Las Gundinas never struggles with ripeness – a sensual, generous wine that commands attention.

El Cerro de Valdecañada comes from a tiny and steep 0.6-hectare parcel near Ponferrada in Bierzo. The vineyard has a northern exposure and the vines are more than 100 years old. Old Mencía vines planted on slate and schist soils produce a wine with remarkable freshness and minerality. Slightly ethereal and pure in style, with a ripe and refined tannic structure. Production is limited to around 600 bottles.

La Clave is the latest throw of genius Raúl Pérez. Mainly made from vineyards in the Ponferrada region. What is special about this wine is its coupage. Indeed, besides Mencía, half of it consists of Tintorera, or Alicante Bouschet, a grape variety that was widely planted in Galicia and Bierzo after the philloxera. This grape is best known for its dark-coloured flesh, which makes the La Clave darker in colour than the other Raúl wines.

Ultreia El Agro is a very limited single-vineyard wine by Raúl Pérez from D.O. Bierzo. The wine is made from 100% Mencía and comes from a small plot next to El Val, overlooking Raúl Pérez’s own house. El Agro covers barely 0.2 hectares and consists mainly of poor sandy soils. The combination of old vines, low yields and sandy soil gives a wine with plenty of charm, freshness and minerality.

Raúl Pérez knows like no-one else how to achieve the right balance between finesse and strength. This is no doubt the most elegant of all the reds at Ultreia.

This entry level wine in Raul Perez's range is a tribute to the Camino de Compostela (Ultreia is the salute given to the pilgrims on the way); it is also a very pure expression of the Mencia grape.

This is Raul Pérez's top Bierzo-wine. Named after the old salute of the pilgrims on they way to Santiago de Compostela (Ultreia, go on!) it is a perfect illustration of a pure Mencia. It comes from a 1,1 ha vineyard, planted in 1908, 530m above sea-level?

This is Raul Pérez's top Bierzo-wine. Named after the old salute of the pilgrims on they way to Santiago de Compostela (Ultreia, go on!) it is a perfect illustration of a pure Mencia. It comes from a 1,1 ha vineyard, planted in 1908, 530m above sea-level?