Raúl Pérez Pico Ferreira 2019

Raul Perez is a leading figure in Spanish wine and a champion of his native Bierzo, in Castilla y Leon. Pico Ferreira takes its name from the vineyard near the village of Toral de los Vados where the fruit is grown. The wine is made from Mencia, the region's signature red grape, planted on the slate and schist soils that give Bierzo reds their perfume, freshness and mineral drive. Old vines and a cool, wet climate moderated by Atlantic influence keep the fruit bright and the alcohol moderate. The wine is aged in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannin and adds a savoury frame while keeping the fruit and floral character intact. The colour is a bright medium red. The nose leads with fresh red fruit, cherries and raspberries, interwoven with a floral hint of violets. The palate is fresh and mineral, with fine tannin, bright acidity and a savoury, structured finish that reflects the slate soils. At 13.5 percent it is elegant and balanced. Serve at around 16 degrees, with a decant. It suits red meat, game and pork.