Raul Perez - La Vizcaina De Vinos La Del Vivo Bierzo Blanco
| Vintage: | 2021 |
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| Description: | The Bierzo region of Northwestern Spain quietly teems with winemaking life. There's ample press fawning over its distinctive wines, which come from some of the most talented winemakers in Spain, but it's still under the popular radar. Tucked between the bulk of Spain's sunnier, semi-arid landscape and the cooler, wetter Atlantic coast, unique grape varieties thrive here. The old vineyards are dominated by Godello for whites and Mencia for reds, though the old tradition of mixed plantings means other varieties still mingle. Among Spain's greatest whites, Bierzo Godellos are typically rounded, with a juicy, softly mineral acidity tucked into its fruit, and ripe tones across the spectrum of fresh orchard fruits like citrus, pear/apple, and peach/apricot. Mencia -driven wines from Bierzo share features of French Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Pinot Noir : velvet-textured tannin with lightly peppery, mineral sensations, and spicy, floral aromas accompanying the juicy dark and red fruits, like brambly blackberry and fresh macerated cherry. One of the great protagonists of this region is Raul Perez, whose family comes from Valtuille, a temperate area of gently rolling hills in the heart of Bierzo, which is itself surrounded by mountain foothills and dramatically cut valleys. For Mr. Perez, the best expression of the region is "more Burgundy than Bordeaux." By harvesting according to acidity levels and including whole clusters in the fermentations, Raul achieves his particular preference for the reds: medium-bodied and vibrantly juicy on the palate, along with a savory, herbaceous spice counterpoint to the soft, fresh fruit-and-floral tones that come easily for the Mencia variety here. His whites are understatedly complex, with nutty and savory sensations balancing the fruity. Mr. Perez's winemaking philosophy is at the same time traditional and innovative : he practices organic farming, allows fermentation to start naturally and proceed leisurely, and makes use of lengthy skin macerations. Depending on the wine, aging takes place in a mix of concrete, clay vessels, and mostly older French oak barrels. Raul also minimizes the use of sulfites, a risky choice in winemaking, but for him it's a requirement. The wines are neither filtered nor fined. This delicious white, mostly Godello with a touch of Dona Blanca, is subtly complex with its contrasting textures and flavors. Like in the Jura region of France, some of the wine was allowed to develop flor, a yeast that covers the surface of the wine and contributes a subtle savory (saline, nutty) and floral accents. Earthy, subtly-fruited and superbly balanced. Wine Advocate 95+ Points - "The cooler 2021 produced very fresh whites; they started picking grapes with 12.1% to 12.2% alcohol, and the 2021 La Vizcana La del Vivo has a profile similar to the 2018. They don't do malolactic in their whites, and the wines have very good freshness and acidity. It comes from two plots on clay and sand. Part of the wine was fermented and aged in tinaja [Spanish clay vessels] and developed some flor that gives the wine a very tasty and spicy twist. This is the first year when they only used foudres (no more barrels). The lees are never stirred, and the profile of the wine is not leesy. There is austerity, and it is bone-dry, with the oak neatly folded into the wine. 9,000 bottles produced." |
| Price: | $ 39.98 |
| Price in original currency: | None |
Available from Hi-Time Wine Cellars
| Address: |
250 Ogle Street Costa Mesa, CA 92627 United States |
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| Telephone (toll-free): | 800-331-3005 |
| Telephone (regular): | 949-650-8463 |
| Fax: | 949-631-6863 |
First added to 1000 Corks on January 18, 2024.
