2021 Raul Pérez Castro Ventosa Valtuille Cova de la Raposa

Castro Ventosa is one of the oldest domains in Bierzo. This is the family estate of Spain's most famous oenologist Raul Pérez. Very nice range of pure wines, from a basic Joven to the top Valtuille. The Valtuille La Cova de la Raposa 2021 comes from the lieu-dit where the soil is rich in sand, and which they have been vinifying separately since 2003. This south-facing vineyard is the first to be harvested, as its orientation and the fact that the old vines produce only two to three bunches per vine ensure that they ripen early. They used 40% full bunches for the native fermentation with 40 days of maceration. It matured for 12 months in two 500 liter oak barrels. It has moderate alcohol (12.43%) and ripeness with nice balance, a tight mouthfeel and very fine tannins. This is a warm spot that behaved quite well in the cooler 2021 vintage. Only 1,200 bottles were filled.

ABOUT CASTRO VENTOSA BY RAUL PEREZ
The oldest document found about the purchase of a vineyard from Castro Ventosa dates from 1752. As with many viticulturists in Spain, sales were almost always made to the local cooperative. It was only in the early 1990s that the domain itself started making and bottling wines. The youngest generation in particular has played a major role in this. The entire Pérez family works on the domain, but it is without a doubt oenologist Raúl Pérez who put this domain on the map. It is the basis for the revaluation of the typical grape variety for this region: Mencía; not only for Castro Ventosa, but for the entire appellation. However, for a number of years now, in addition to the family domain, he has also entered into a partnership with like-minded people and he also makes his own wines in various appellations. Raúl is now one of Spain's most famous winemakers and his wines have acquired a true cult status. In the meantime, Castro Ventosa has also adapted the range to the new wine legislation and makes more distinctive wines. Their brand “Valtuille” (the village name) can now also be used by other wine growers to represent the origin of their wines.

Varieties
The grape variety in this region is Mencía. Castro Ventosa, together with Descendientes de J.Palacios, is primarily responsible for the revival of the use of this grape. In the 1990s, Tempranillo, Cabernet and the like were also planted here in abundance. However, it was these two domains that fully focused on Mencía and especially on making top wines with this variety. Mencía gives very nice results when working with low yields and harvesting at optimal ripeness. Harvested too early, this grape produces green wines (hence the link that was made for years with the Cabernet Franc); This link is now outdated - both grape varieties are not related, but if harvested too late or overripe, no acids are left. After all, Mencía naturally has little acidity. Balance and thorough work in the vineyard are therefore crucial.

Castro Ventosa owns approximately 60 hectares of Mencía, exclusively vines between 30 and 60 years old. Castro Ventosa is located in Valtuille de Abajo, a small village in the lower part of the Bierzo region, with mainly sandy and clay soils. Bierzo itself has a microclimate with milder temperatures than the surrounding regions (León, Galicia). This advantage is further enhanced on the plain. The name of the domain comes from the Roman settlement (Castro). This is a hill that overlooks the surrounding plain at the foot of the village. The bodega itself is carved into the side of this Roman hill and the majority of their vineyards are located on the flanks of the Castro. The wines are therefore named after this. Their top wine, the Valtuille, comes from 10 plots of very poor and sandy soils and a small portion of soils with a slate soil. The vineyards for the Castro de Valtuille have clay-sandy soils and partly stony soils. The vines for the Joven grow mainly on clay-loam soils. In the old vineyards approximately 4000 to 5000 vines are planted per hectare.