Castro Ventosa Valtuille El Rapolao 2022

Castro Ventosa work in D.O. Bierzo, in Castilla y Leon, where Raul Perez and his family have been making wine since the late nineteenth century. El Rapolao comes from the Valtuille area, from old vines dating back over seventy years in one of the region's freshest, coolest sites. It is led by Mencia and completed with Alicante Bouschet and other old field blend varieties. The soils here are a mix of slate, clay and river stones, which lend the wine perfume, minerality and freshness. Old, low yielding vines concentrate the fruit, while the cool site and Atlantic influence keep the acidity firm and the alcohol moderate. The wine is aged for twelve months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the tannin and adds a savoury depth without masking the fruit. The colour is a deep, bright red. The nose shows cherry and red berries with a touch of plum, backed by dried herbs and black pepper. The palate is fresh and structured, with fine tannin, bright acidity and a mineral, savoury finish. At 13.5 percent it is balanced and elegant. Serve at around 16 to 17 degrees, with a decant. It suits red meat, game and pork.