El Rapolao, La Vizcaina de Vinos, Bierzo, 2020

Increasingly recognised as Valtuille’s official Grand Cru, Raul explained that it is now impossible to buy more land in El Rapolao. It has become the most labelled single vineyard wine in Bierzo (three of which are Raul’s) and is celebrated for the complexity of fruit and depth, always allied to freshness. The tannins 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. Raul has the biggest holdings in Rapolao. 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.