Ultreia de Valtuille, Bierzo, 2018

A 120 year-old single plot within the Las Villegas vineyard. The vineyard is formed of one contiguous bank and is separated in to 7 different plots with different expositions: south, east, and west. Raúl’s plot is in the higher east south east-facing part of the vineyard at 530-575m elevation, which are better exposed to cooling northern breezes. Raul owns 2HA of the 6HA total. Las Villegas was the first vineyard replanted after phylloxera, and it produces deeply complex, salty stony wines with immense fragrancy and concentration. Sandy soil atop very hard bedrock. “Why not label it Ultreia Las Villegas?”, we asked. “Because Las Villegas as a whole does not have a uniform style, and my parcel of very old vines has a unique expression next to the other bottlings, including those of my own family!” Finely pitched red plum and salted cherries dance with wild flowers, dry, earthy notes, and saline acidities. Incredibly long, polished, high quality tannins frame this superb, ageworthy Bierzo. A must have for any serious collector. Fermented with wild yeasts and 100% whole bunches, 4 months on the skins before aging in 2-3 year old barriques for a year. 13.5%.