Raúl Pérez Pan y Carne 2021

Pan y Carne is one of Raúl Pérez’s more unusual Bierzo bottlings, made from Trousseau, a thin-skinned variety far better known in the Jura than in northern Spain. Trousseau ripens to low colour and light tannin, so the appeal lies in aromatics and freshness rather than depth, and the cool, hilly Bierzo sites with their sandy and slate soils suit that delicacy. Farmed organically, the grapes are picked to hold acidity, and the wine sits at a modest 12 percent. Vinification is restrained, with gentle extraction to keep the tannins soft and the fruit clean and lifted. The colour is pale ruby. The nose leads with cherry and raspberry, lifted by a subtle peppery spice and a faint dried-herb savouriness, while the palate is light and bright, with low tannin and a fresh, almost crunchy red-fruit character. The finish is dry and savoury. Serve cool at 14 to 15 degrees Celsius in a standard glass, and treat it as you would a light Pinot Noir alongside roast chicken, charcuterie or mushrooms.