Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Bierzo 2023

Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Bierzo 

Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León,Spain

Vintage: 2020

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Mencia,  Alicante Bouschet, Trousseau, Other native varieties

ABV: 14%

The Ultreia ‘Saint Jacques’, which takes its name from the Camino de Santiago, is an excellent introduction to the Raúl Pérez range and offers great value. Floral and fruit-driven on the nose, aromas of raspberries and blackberries burst out of the glass. Fine-grained tannins on the palate with a lifted acidity that drives the juicy berry fruit onto the crisp finish.

The ‘Saint Jacques’ blends Mencía, Alicante Bouschet, Trousseau, Godello, Palomino and Doña Blanca from old bush vines, the majority of which are over 100 years old. 60% of the fruit comes from Raúl’s own vineyards, which are farmed following organic principles, the remainder is sourced from his trusted grower network, who also farm sustainably. Soils are predominantly clay-based with pockets of sand, gravel and iron. The signature finesse of the ‘Saint Jacques’ is the result of meticulously chosen picking dates, with harvest of the over 100 vineyard plots that make up the blend typically taking over a month to complete.

The individual vineyard plots, picked as field blends, are vinified separately to allow Raúl maximum blending options. Fermentation takes place in used oak vats with indigenous yeasts and only very gentle extraction techniques, with no punch-downs or pump-overs. 80% whole-bunch is used for the ‘Saint Jacques’, imparting a deliciously crunchy fruit character on the wine. Following fermentation and a 45-day maceration on the skins, the wine is racked off and aged in used, 225-litre, French oak barrels for 12 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.