Raul Perez La Vizcaina La Poulosa Bierzo 2023

Raul Perez La Vizcaina La Poulosa Bierzo 

Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León, Spain

Vintage: 2023

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Bastardo, Garnacha Tintorera, Mencia

ABV: 13.5%

A deliciously ripe and juicy wine, brimming with aromas of black cherries and blackberries combined with subtle spicy and earthy notes. Velvety tannins and a crisp acidity drive the complex aromas onto the long finish.

‘La Poulosa’ is a 2.2-hectare plot in Valtuille de Abajo on pebbly clay soils. This plot has a slightly warmer microclimate and produces wines defined by a darker, earthier fruit profile. A field blend of Mencía, Bastardo (aka Trousseau) and Garnacha Tintorera, the vineyard was originally planted in 1940 and is farmed following organic and sustainable practices.

Upon arrival at the winery, fermentation takes place in used oak vats with indigenous yeasts and 100% whole-bunch. Only very gentle extraction techniques are used, with no punch-downs or pump-overs. Following fermentation and a 40-day maceration on the skins, the wine is racked off and aged in used, 500-litre, French oak foudres for 11 months before bottling

Raúl Pérez has played a pivotal role in Spain’s vinous revolution. Widely considered to be one of the world’s most fascinating, talented and restless winemakers, he has inspired a new generation of winemakers in Bierzo and beyond. While Raúl is involved in many projects across Spain and abroad, his home remains Valtuille de Abajo, the Bierzo village where he was born and raised. His family have a long-standing tradition of grape growing in the region, dating back to the 1750s. After studying oenology, Raúl spent several years working at his family winery, Castro Ventosa, before striking out on his own in 2005. He has worked tirelessly to preserve Bierzo’s viticultural heritage, developing an unparalleled understanding of the region, its vineyards and indigenous varieties.