Ultreia, La Claudina, Bierzo, 2019

Produced from a relatively flat 0.5HA parcel of vines with a south-south east orientation on sandy soils in Valtuille, La Claudina is a warm site producing wines with impressive complexity and intensity. The vines are now 49 years old. Ordinarily Raul encourages a layer of flor to develop over the wine but the earlier picked 2019, with a lower pH than usual, he believes made it more difficult than usual to maintain. Production averages just 1,500-2,000 bottles a year. Lightly honeyed but dry, incredibly tense and clear, with beams of racy acidity, La Claudina this year has an intense tightly wound profile with savoury notes of nuts and sourdough alongside blossom, citrus, green apples and stone fruits. Aged 75% in old oak and 25% in 2 year old barrels for around 12 months with no topping, no malo and no battonage. 13.5% ABV.