ULTREIA de Valtuille 2022

Description

Ultreia Valtuille 2022 is one of the most emblematic and sought-after wines from Raúl Pérez, considered by many the best winemaker in Spain. Made in theD.O. Bierzo with Mencía (90%) and Alicante Bouschet (10%) grapes from the historic Las Villegas vineyard, planted in 1908 in Valtuille de Abajo, Raúl Pérez's native municipality.

The vines, more than 110 years old, are grown in glass on clay-slaty soils at about 600 meters of altitude, with extraordinarily low yields that concentrate all the expression of the terroir in each cluster. The harvest is completely manual, with selection in the vineyard plot by plot.

The production is artisanal and minimalist: fermentation with native yeasts in open oak vats, with manual pigeage twice a day for 20 days. The wine undergoes malolactic aging in the barrel and rests 14 months in 228-liter French oak barrels for second and third use, preserving the purity of the fruit without masking the terroir. Unclarified, unfiltered.

Of deep garnet-cherry color. The nose is elegant and complex: black fruits (blackberry, blueberry, currant), violets, licorice, wet stone and balsamic notes that evoke the slate character of Bierzo. In the mouth it is seductive, long and of great tension, with fine and polished tannins, lively acidity and a finish of more than a minute with mineral and floral memories.

A cult wine recognized with 95 Parker points, 95 Tim Atkin points and 93 Peñín points. With aging potential until 2035. Ideal for red meats, game, mushrooms and cured cheeses. Serve between 16 and 18°C, decanting 30 minutes before.