Ultreia de Valtuille, Bodegas y Viñedos Raul Perez 2012

The content of the bottle of 2012 Ultreia de Valtuille quite unique. It is a blend of Villegas and La del Vivo, a mixture of old vines with mixed varieties, but Mencía-based, with an explosive nose that jumps from the glass with an array of violets, cured meat, licorice and camphor followed by an earthy undertone. The palate is medium-bodied, with a silky texture, compact and balanced flavors that are harmonious and have good freshness through a long finish. This is a superb example of what Bierzo can achieve. I also had a preview of the 2013s from barrel and I'm really excited about it, because my gut feeling was that the 2013 Ultreia de Valtuille which felt extremely elegant, with very fine tannins and great acidity, extremely Burgundian, a step up in complexity, elegance and subtleness, which should be bottled very soon and could well be the best wine produced in the history of this young estate. Keep tuned! Drink 2016-2022.