2019 Raúl Pérez El Cerro de Valdecañada

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Description

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Tight and restrained Bierzo with a focus on tension, transparency and terroir expression.

Raúl Pérez Winery

Raúl Pérez is considered one of Spain's most influential and idiosyncratic winemakers. Based in Bierzo, he works with old vineyards, minimal intervention, and a strong focus on provenance. His wines often focus on tension, freshness, and structure, with a style that deliberately deviates from ripeness or extraction. In addition to his renowned Ultreia wines, Pérez develops small-scale projects in which he explores specific zones and soils individually. His top wines, however, are almost impossible to find! Everyone talks about them, but few have ever tasted them. The common thread in his work is the recovery of old vines from native grape varieties and the creation of authentic wines with plenty of character and personality. Or, to put it in his own words: "I'd rather make an undrinkably bad Galician wine, but at least let it be a Galician wine."

More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

El Cerro de Valdecañada originates from the Ponferrada area of Bierzo, an area with a relatively cool microclimate and distinct Atlantic influences. The Valdecañada zone distinguishes itself within Bierzo by its location and soil composition, which produce wines with lower alcohol, greater freshness, and a pronounced mineral tension.

Vineyards

The vineyards are situated on slate and schist soils, which directly contribute to the wine's taut and mineral character. Raúl Pérez acquired these plots in 2008 and, starting in 2015, decided to vinify the grapes separately to better express the unique character of Valdecañada. Yields are very low, and the production of this wine is limited to approximately 600 bottles, all numbered. This is a collector's item.

Grape varieties and composition

The wine is made from Mencía grapes. In this context, the grape isn't ripe or generous, but rather taut and transparent, emphasizing structure, acidity, and mineral expression rather than fruit concentration.

Harvest, vinification and maturation

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected. Vinification involves minimal intervention, with the wine aging in a separate cellar in Valdecañada. The wines are aged under a veil of flor, which provides protection from oxidation and allows for the use of very little to no sulfur. This approach results in a distinctly dry, precise, and cleanly structured wine.

Color, smell and taste

The wine has a transparent ruby red color. The aroma is restrained and taut, with notes of red fruit, spices, and a distinct mineral component reminiscent of wet stone and slate. On the palate, the wine is dry and linear, with pronounced tension and freshness. The fruit remains in the background, giving way to structure, acidity, and an almost ascetic precision. The texture is light yet concentrated, with a long, dry finish carried primarily by minerality and finesse. The style is austere, yet less austere than in cooler vintages, making the wine more accessible without losing its character.

Summary of professional reviews

Luis Gutiérrez of The Wine Advocate awarded the wine 96 points and described it as cleaner and more accessible than previous vintages, with a pure, pared-down style without glycerin or excess. He emphasized the combination of austerity and precision, yet with more approachability than the more rigorous 2018. The very limited production and distinct provenance make this wine a characterful and distinctive expression of Bierzo.

The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.

Specifications

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Packing information Box
Type of Wine Red
Country Spain
Region Castilla y Leon
Appellation Bierzo
Icons Icon Spain & Portugal
Winery Raul Perez
Grape Mencia
Biological certified No
Natural wine No
Vegan No
Vintage 2019
Drinking as of 2024
Drinking till 2032
Alcohol % 12.5
Alcohol free/low No
Content 0.75 ltr
Oak aging Yes
Sparkling No
Dessert wine No
Closure Cork
Parker rating 96
Tasting Profiles Aards, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol
Drink moments Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard, Romantisch
Sommy Pairing Beschrijving De 2019 Raúl Pérez El Cerro de Valdecañada is een elegante en minerale wijn die zich onderscheidt door zijn strakke structuur, frisse zuren en subtiele tonen van rood fruit en kruiden. Door de minimale interventie en het gebruik van oude wijngaarden krijgt deze wijn een pure, transparante expressie van terroir, met een bijna ascetische precisie die perfect de complexiteit van de bodem en het klimaat weerspiegelt. Deze wijn past uitstekend bij rijke, smaakvolle gerechten zoals lam en wild, vooral wanneer deze gerechten bereid worden met eenvoudige, natuurlijke ingrediënten die de finesse en mineraliteit van de wijn versterken. Een lichte garing, zoals rosé of langzaam gegaard vlees, zorgt ervoor dat de wijn zijn frisheid behoudt en de smaken mooi in balans blijven.

Professional Reviews

chevron-down

Parker

96

Wijnhuis

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Raúl Pérez is without a doubt the most mediatic winemaker in all of Spain today. However, his wines are almost impossible to find! Everyone talks about it, but few have already tasted them. Raúl is present in numerous appellations and regions, not only in Spain, but also in South Africa, Portugal, South America.

We have been following Raúl since 2000; at that time he was still working as an oenologist at the Castro Ventosa family estate in Valtuille de Abajo. He also worked as an oenologist-consultant for other domains in Bierzo. He refined the Mencia to unprecedented heights, also helped Ricardo and Alvaro Palacios start their top domain, while constantly tasting and trying other wines from around the world. Raúl is a restless nature and his curiosity and passion take him further and further.

Between 2005 and 2007 he left the family domain and left for a wine odyssey. In a few years he made a name for himself and became a real 'star' in the wine world. The common thread in his work is the recovery of vieilles vignes from indigenous grape varieties and the making of authentic wines with a lot of character and personality. Or to put it in his own words, "I'd rather make an undrinkably bad Galician wine, but at least let it be a Galician wine." He has therefore already vinified dozens of wines in countless different regions (mostly in the northwest of Spain, and also beyond), but which have never been marketed. He tests, he tries, and often fails. Of course, this way of working brings him a lot of experience, with which he will later be able to get the most out of one grape variety or one region.

Today he makes or contributes to more than 80 wines. In the end, he more or less settled himself by renovating two of his own mini-bodegas: one in the Tierra de León region, in the village of Valdevimbre, and another in his native Bierzo, where he is in the village of Salas de los Barrios. own Ultreia's, the absolute essence of Mencía. Raúl always works organically and as pure as possible. It uses the minimum of SO2. The wines we get from him are always in minimal quantities and we hardly ever know what we are going to get, from what year and how much ... That is Raúl in all.

Food

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Spijs

De 2019 Raúl Pérez El Cerro de Valdecañada is een elegante en minerale wijn die zich onderscheidt door zijn strakke structuur, frisse zuren en subtiele tonen van rood fruit en kruiden. Door de minimale interventie en het gebruik van oude wijngaarden krijgt deze wijn een pure, transparante expressie van terroir, met een bijna ascetische precisie die perfect de complexiteit van de bodem en het klimaat weerspiegelt. Deze wijn past uitstekend bij rijke, smaakvolle gerechten zoals lam en wild, vooral wanneer deze gerechten bereid worden met eenvoudige, natuurlijke ingrediënten die de finesse en mineraliteit van de wijn versterken. Een lichte garing, zoals rosé of langzaam gegaard vlees, zorgt ervoor dat de wijn zijn frisheid behoudt en de smaken mooi in balans blijven.

Klik op een categorie om heerlijke recepten te ontdekken die perfect combineren met deze wijn.

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Start de Sommy Wijnadvies Tool

Attachments

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Description

Tight and restrained Bierzo with a focus on tension, transparency and terroir expression.

Raúl Pérez Winery

Raúl Pérez is considered one of Spain's most influential and idiosyncratic winemakers. Based in Bierzo, he works with old vineyards, minimal intervention, and a strong focus on provenance. His wines often focus on tension, freshness, and structure, with a style that deliberately deviates from ripeness or extraction. In addition to his renowned Ultreia wines, Pérez develops small-scale projects in which he explores specific zones and soils individually. His top wines, however, are almost impossible to find! Everyone talks about them, but few have ever tasted them. The common thread in his work is the recovery of old vines from native grape varieties and the creation of authentic wines with plenty of character and personality. Or, to put it in his own words: "I'd rather make an undrinkably bad Galician wine, but at least let it be a Galician wine."

More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

El Cerro de Valdecañada originates from the Ponferrada area of Bierzo, an area with a relatively cool microclimate and distinct Atlantic influences. The Valdecañada zone distinguishes itself within Bierzo by its location and soil composition, which produce wines with lower alcohol, greater freshness, and a pronounced mineral tension.

Vineyards

The vineyards are situated on slate and schist soils, which directly contribute to the wine's taut and mineral character. Raúl Pérez acquired these plots in 2008 and, starting in 2015, decided to vinify the grapes separately to better express the unique character of Valdecañada. Yields are very low, and the production of this wine is limited to approximately 600 bottles, all numbered. This is a collector's item.

Grape varieties and composition

The wine is made from Mencía grapes. In this context, the grape isn't ripe or generous, but rather taut and transparent, emphasizing structure, acidity, and mineral expression rather than fruit concentration.

Harvest, vinification and maturation

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected. Vinification involves minimal intervention, with the wine aging in a separate cellar in Valdecañada. The wines are aged under a veil of flor, which provides protection from oxidation and allows for the use of very little to no sulfur. This approach results in a distinctly dry, precise, and cleanly structured wine.

Color, smell and taste

The wine has a transparent ruby red color. The aroma is restrained and taut, with notes of red fruit, spices, and a distinct mineral component reminiscent of wet stone and slate. On the palate, the wine is dry and linear, with pronounced tension and freshness. The fruit remains in the background, giving way to structure, acidity, and an almost ascetic precision. The texture is light yet concentrated, with a long, dry finish carried primarily by minerality and finesse. The style is austere, yet less austere than in cooler vintages, making the wine more accessible without losing its character.

Summary of professional reviews

Luis Gutiérrez of The Wine Advocate awarded the wine 96 points and described it as cleaner and more accessible than previous vintages, with a pure, pared-down style without glycerin or excess. He emphasized the combination of austerity and precision, yet with more approachability than the more rigorous 2018. The very limited production and distinct provenance make this wine a characterful and distinctive expression of Bierzo.

The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.

Specifications

Packing information Box
Type of Wine Red
Country Spain
Region Castilla y Leon
Appellation Bierzo
Icons Icon Spain & Portugal
Winery Raul Perez
Grape Mencia
Biological certified No
Natural wine No
Vegan No
Vintage 2019
Drinking as of 2024
Drinking till 2032
Alcohol % 12.5
Alcohol free/low No
Content 0.75 ltr
Oak aging Yes
Sparkling No
Dessert wine No
Closure Cork
Parker rating 96
Tasting Profiles Aards, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol
Drink moments Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard, Romantisch
Sommy Pairing Beschrijving De 2019 Raúl Pérez El Cerro de Valdecañada is een elegante en minerale wijn die zich onderscheidt door zijn strakke structuur, frisse zuren en subtiele tonen van rood fruit en kruiden. Door de minimale interventie en het gebruik van oude wijngaarden krijgt deze wijn een pure, transparante expressie van terroir, met een bijna ascetische precisie die perfect de complexiteit van de bodem en het klimaat weerspiegelt. Deze wijn past uitstekend bij rijke, smaakvolle gerechten zoals lam en wild, vooral wanneer deze gerechten bereid worden met eenvoudige, natuurlijke ingrediënten die de finesse en mineraliteit van de wijn versterken. Een lichte garing, zoals rosé of langzaam gegaard vlees, zorgt ervoor dat de wijn zijn frisheid behoudt en de smaken mooi in balans blijven.

Professional Reviews

Parker

96

Wijnhuis

Raúl Pérez is without a doubt the most mediatic winemaker in all of Spain today. However, his wines are almost impossible to find! Everyone talks about it, but few have already tasted them. Raúl is present in numerous appellations and regions, not only in Spain, but also in South Africa, Portugal, South America.

We have been following Raúl since 2000; at that time he was still working as an oenologist at the Castro Ventosa family estate in Valtuille de Abajo. He also worked as an oenologist-consultant for other domains in Bierzo. He refined the Mencia to unprecedented heights, also helped Ricardo and Alvaro Palacios start their top domain, while constantly tasting and trying other wines from around the world. Raúl is a restless nature and his curiosity and passion take him further and further.

Between 2005 and 2007 he left the family domain and left for a wine odyssey. In a few years he made a name for himself and became a real 'star' in the wine world. The common thread in his work is the recovery of vieilles vignes from indigenous grape varieties and the making of authentic wines with a lot of character and personality. Or to put it in his own words, "I'd rather make an undrinkably bad Galician wine, but at least let it be a Galician wine." He has therefore already vinified dozens of wines in countless different regions (mostly in the northwest of Spain, and also beyond), but which have never been marketed. He tests, he tries, and often fails. Of course, this way of working brings him a lot of experience, with which he will later be able to get the most out of one grape variety or one region.

Today he makes or contributes to more than 80 wines. In the end, he more or less settled himself by renovating two of his own mini-bodegas: one in the Tierra de León region, in the village of Valdevimbre, and another in his native Bierzo, where he is in the village of Salas de los Barrios. own Ultreia's, the absolute essence of Mencía. Raúl always works organically and as pure as possible. It uses the minimum of SO2. The wines we get from him are always in minimal quantities and we hardly ever know what we are going to get, from what year and how much ... That is Raúl in all.

Food

Spijs

De 2019 Raúl Pérez El Cerro de Valdecañada is een elegante en minerale wijn die zich onderscheidt door zijn strakke structuur, frisse zuren en subtiele tonen van rood fruit en kruiden. Door de minimale interventie en het gebruik van oude wijngaarden krijgt deze wijn een pure, transparante expressie van terroir, met een bijna ascetische precisie die perfect de complexiteit van de bodem en het klimaat weerspiegelt. Deze wijn past uitstekend bij rijke, smaakvolle gerechten zoals lam en wild, vooral wanneer deze gerechten bereid worden met eenvoudige, natuurlijke ingrediënten die de finesse en mineraliteit van de wijn versterken. Een lichte garing, zoals rosé of langzaam gegaard vlees, zorgt ervoor dat de wijn zijn frisheid behoudt en de smaken mooi in balans blijven.

Klik op een categorie om heerlijke recepten te ontdekken die perfect combineren met deze wijn.

Heeft u al een gerecht in gedachte?

Laat onze AI-sommelier u helpen met het vinden van de ideale wijn bij uw gerecht

Start de Sommy Wijnadvies Tool

Trivia

Attachments