Raul Perez Ultreia St. Jacques 2021

The nose opens with soft red cherry, loamy turned earth, gentle spice, pepper, and an Espadin level of just-there smoke. The palate is light and roughly equivalent to an Etna Rosso with flavors of black cherry, crushed rocks, pepper, and turned black soil - D&M TASTING NOTES

"Yet another excellent wine from these very old vines…delivers a refined aromatic constellation of cassis, pomegranate, tree bark, espresso, a lovely base of dark soil tones, discreet Mencia botanicals and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, complex and full-bodied, with impeccable focus and balance, a fine core of black fruit, excellent soil undertow and grip, buried tannins and a long, poised and classy finish. This is certainly approachable today, but will be even better if the tannins are allowed at least a handful of years to soften up further. It is an excellent and very elegant vintage for this bottling! (Drinking Window: 2024-2035)" - 94 PTS, JOHN GILMAN, VIEW FROM THE CELLAR (05/2024)

PRODUCTION NOTES FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR:

-A mencía-dominant field blend with Bastardo (Trousseau), Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Palomino, Doña Blanca and more 

-Blended from many different parcels, mostly planted between the 1890s and the 1940s in and around Valtuille de Abajo on clay, alluvial stones and sand

-50-60% whole-cluster spontaneous fermentation in 13000L open-top oak vats with 60-day-plus post-fermentation maceration; racked to 225-500L barrels for elevage until the next harvest; unfined and unfiltered