2018 Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez “Valdecañada” Tinto, Bierzo, SpainABOUT THE WINE The 2018 Valdecaada is one of Ral Prezs most ethereal reds, made from old vine Menca (with small amounts of Bastardo and Garnacha Tintorera) grown in a remote, high elevation site in the Valdecaada zone of western Bierzo. The vineyard sits at over 700 meters above sea level, where schist laced soils and a cool, Atlantic influenced climate yield grapes of delicacy and tension. Farmed organically and harvested by hand, the fruit is

but it was the fruit quality and wine style coming from Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in particular that excited me

although they also own vines in several other villages

The labels chosen for the wines pay tribute to the Pieve and recall the typical colors of the Gaja family

The winery itself dates back to the 1880’s during a period in which there was huge demand for Sicilian wines

manual harvest in 20 kg boxes

Marques de Murrieta is named after Luciano de Murrieta

A unique in its kind orange

Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled tanks and is combined with long skin-contact maceration which last 20-30 days

Under the deft hand and careful direction of Adrien Bergère

45% of the wine is aged for 19 months in concrete tanks and 55% in 2nd

From there

with an average vine age of 50 years old