Raul Perez Ultreia Godello Bierzo 2024
Raul Perez Ultreia Godello Bierzo
Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León, Spain
Vintage: 2024
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Godello
ABV: 13.5%
A fresh and fruit-driven Godello with aromas of juicy apricots and peaches, a mouthwatering acidity and a marked minerality on the palate. Described by Luis Gutiérrez of Wine Advocate as “the most Burgundian” of Raúl’s 2023 whites.
Raúl sources the Godello for this wine from younger vines in a range of sustainably-farmed plots located around the villages of Cacabelos and Valtuille de Abajo. Soils are composed predominantly of sandy clay and are well draining, encouraging the vines to lay down deep roots. Some plots are bush vines, others are cordon trained. The signature finesse of the wine is the result of meticulously chosen picking dates, with harvest of the many plots that make up the blend typically taking over a month to complete.
The individual vineyard plots are vinified separately to allow Raúl maximum blending options. Upon arrival at the winery, the Godello is pressed and left to settle overnight before being racked off the sediment. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts takes place in used oak vats of varying sizes (foudres, demi-muids and barrels). Unusually for Raúl, the 2023 vintage went through malolactic fermentation. Aged on the lees for 12 months in a combination of stainless-steel tanks and used French oak barriques, minimal manipulation takes place during the ageing process with no bâtonnage.
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.