Raúl Pérez La Vizcaina Bierzo Tinto 'El Rapolao'

SIZE: 750ml

Often called a winemaking visionary and a major influencer in the "New Spain" Raul Perez is legendary in Bierzo. Known for his warmth, humility and charm, he is now a mentor to the next generation and his influence reaches far beyond this corner of Spain. His approach to winemaking seems simple and is less about the "making" and more about the grapes. His drive is to bottle the unique qualities of each vineyard and soil type without getting in the way of nature. This minimalist approach requires constant exploration into the microbiology of maceration, yeasts, fermentation and more. He moves forward with a constant curiosity and search for how the vineyard can produce the truest expression of itself.

His La Vizcaina wines are produced from over fifty year old vines from Raul's home town of Valtuille de Abajo. A portion of the El Rapolao actually comes from vines dating back to 1920. Grapes are fermented on the whole stalk in large open vats and macerate for 30 days. The wine is then moved to small neutral barrels and eventually bottled without fining or filtration. Full red fruits, spice and savory notes, the wine is powerful, yet elegant.