Bodegas Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille 2018
-
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The Ultreia de Valtuille exudes aromas of blackberry, pillory, tobacco, leaf litter and a subtle reminder of apothecary as notes of cocoa. In the mouth, this red wine is structured, drying and very balanced. It is long and persistent, with a very marked ripe fruit that reminds us of the vineyard from which it comes.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Ultreia Valtuille feels very young. Pérez explained that they used more new oak here because he thinks this is the most serious vintage of this wine ever and also his favorite. This is from a plot in Villegas on 100% sandy soils, and it's the twin plot to the Cepas Centenarias from Castro Ventosa, his family winery. As this was the first single-vineyard they produced, they called it simply Valtuille; but with the new classification, this should be called Villegas. This is serious and designed for the long run, subtle and elegant, with the profile of a grand cru, some baby fat and a touch of oak but with juicy tannins, gobsmacking balance and great length. Drink the 2018 La Vizcaína La Vitoriana while you wait for this.
Other Vintages
2021-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker - Vinous
-
Wine &
Spirits
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
Primarily found in the Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras regions of Spain and in the Dão of Portugal (where it is called Jaen), Mencia is an early ripening, low acid grape that can produce wines of great concentration, complexity and ageability. And yet Mencia once suffered from a poor reputation and deemed capable of producing simple and light red wines. Post-phylloxera growers would grow this variety on low, fertile plains, which produced high yields and uncomplicated finished wines. Somm Secret—The recent rediscovery of the ancient, abandoned vines planted on rugged hillsides of deep schist has unveiled the potential of Mencia and added discredit to its old reputation.
One of the few northwestern Spanish regions with a focus on a red variety, Bierzo, part of Castilla y León, is home to the flowery and fruity Mencia grape. Mencia produces balanced and bright red wines full of strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, baking spice, pepper and black licorice. The well-drained soils of Bierzo are slate and granite.