Castro Ventosa - Rabbit Label Mencia Joven 2022
Price: $21.99
Sale Price: $15.99
| Producer | Castro Ventosa |
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| Country | Spain |
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| Region | Bierzo |
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| Varietal | Mencia |
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| Vintage | 2022 |
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| Sku | 17527 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Before he was awarded multiple Winemaker of the Year awards, Raul Perez was a young winemaker working for his family’s winery, Castro Ventosa. Founded in 1752, the winery is the largest owner of vineyards in Bierzo, a small region tucked in the mountains of northwestern Spain. Like many young winemakers, Raul wanted to innovate, update and explore “purer” expressions of the grapes and vineyards. But after 10 years tilting at the windmills of family tradition, Raul embarked on his own.
His meteoric rise over the past 20 years to the uppermost echelon of winemakers has seen Raul travel far and wide, producing wines from all over Spain. Yet his heart, and his home, have always been in the village of Valtuille de Abajo. While not heavily publicized, at some point in the last decade, Raul took over his family’s winery and implemented the practices and techniques that have made him a superstar. (Smart move, Family Perez!) Under Raul’s tutelage, his nephew, César Márquez, has taken over most of the winemaking duties. But if there is any doubt as to who is in charge, just look for Raul’s name on the front label!
What's Mencia, then? Think great red Burgundy, mixed with top-notch Oregon Pinot, with a dash of Cabernet Franc... hmm... actually, as I drink another bottle... there is starting to be a striking resemblance to old-school Rhone reds as well... this wine has it all - fruit, earth, subtlety and nuance, yet expressive and accessible...
Perhaps that is the greatest triumph of Raul – his ability to craft wines that appeal to every wine lover. You can simply pop the cork and enjoy the wine for its vibrant fruit and textural suppleness. Or you can geek out and seek to discover every nuance of fruit – raspberry, brambleberry, boysenberry, black cherry, etc - along with the subtle earth notes of black tea, fresh herbs, coffee, etc. I’ve enjoyed Mencia with all kinds of foods - roast chicken, tuna, salmon, lamb, burgers - the options are endless. It’s just such a fabulously balanced and food friendly wine!
Wine Advocate: 91+ Points
“The young 2022 El Castro de Valtuille Mencía Joven is a regional red from over 300 plots of old vines that fermented destemmed in stainless steel and matured in oak foudres for three months. It's juicy, fruit-driven, very primary and approachable—the character of the year—with notes of berries and herbs, spicy and tasty, with an austere palate. 2022 was a very dry and warm year when they had to harvest very quickly and the alcohol levels are moderate. It rained some 30 liters just before the harvest, which saved the harvest and made the wines a lot less warm than expected. Yields were good, nearly as good as 2021. Some 125,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2023.” - WA
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