El Rapolao, La Vizcaina de Vinos, Bierzo
    Raúl Pérez

    El Rapolao, La Vizcaina de Vinos, Bierzo, 2017

    94/100
    Vinous
    Available Vintages
    portfolio
    1. 2017

      3x1.5L

      DP

      £160.73

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note

    Always the most floral and elegant of the La Vizcaina crus, the 2017 offers up freshly cut red fruits and summer berries, really finely tuned aromatics and a veritable stoniness unique to this cru. From a total of 1.5 hectares split across two parcels, one planted in the 1920s and the other in 1980. The older parcel is predominantly hard clay and stones, while the younger parcel has looser, more organic soils and they blend to create a wine of fine minerality and salinity, with silken fruit and style. Elevation averages 550m and exposition moves from north to west. Fermented with 100% whole clusters in traditional wooden vats. Unlike the rest of the La Vizcaina range, El Rapolao sees slightly a shorter skin contact, generally between 30-45 days, and ages for 12 months purely in 500L barrels rather than 225L barrique, yielding a wine of medium body, cool elegance and wonderful persistence.

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    Critic Reviews

    94/100
    Josh Raynolds,
    Vinous
    Shimmering ruby. Ripe, spice-tinged blackberry, cherry cola, licorice and pungent floral qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Densely packed red and dark berry liqueur and violet pastille flavors are lifted and sharpened by a jolt of smoky minerality, and a licorice note emerges with aeration. Concentrated as well as energetic in style, finishing with superb persistence, building tannins and lingering spice and floral notes.
    drinking window 2023 - 2031
    date of review 06/2021

    product details

    Specifications

    Country:
    Spain
    Appellation:
    Bierzo
    Producer:
    Raúl Pérez
    style:
    Red Wine
    Grape Variety:
    Mencia
    abv:
    13.5%

    allergen information

    This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.