El Rapolao, La Vizcaina de Vinos, Bierzo, 2019

Full bodied and more concentrated than both the 2018 and 2017 which preceded it, the 2019 nevertheless offers up a bounty of forest fruits, some spice, fresh strawberries and wild herbs. The tannins while present are sweet and the floral top notes, driven by the Bastardo in the field blend, are highly alluring and come together to produce a hugely complex, richly-flavoured Bierzo. RP bought additional plots which came in to production in 2019 and overall El Rapolao, being a steep north to west exposed hill, is fervently admired by all the local producers as perhaps the ultimate Grand Cru in Valtuille. RP now bottles at least three expressions of El Rapolao such is its importance. The La Vizcaina bottling coming from two plots; one mid-slope and one in the lower part, together averaging 550m of elevation. The older parcel in the mid-slope was planted in the 1920s on hard clay and stony soils and the younger, lower plot in the 1980s on clay with more organic material. The blend meets salinity and perfume with silkiness and style. Whole bunch fermented in wood and kept on the skins for 30-45 days before 12 months aging in purely neutral 500L French casks.