Red Wine Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencia 2020. No need to decant before drinking. Raúl Pérez Pereira is one of Spain’s most visionary winemakers and globally considered to be a leading force in the wine industry. Making his first vintage in 1994 for his family’s winery, he has been charging the conversation around the concept of wines in The New Spain”. Perez left the family business in 2005 starting his own project in the Bierzo appellation, which quickly helped put the region on the wine map. Beyond Bierzo, he also works with grapes of Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra and Tierra de León. Having been called Best Winemaker of the Year” by French publication Bettane+Desseauve, his wines are terroir driven, with a natural approach in the vineyard and cellar to capture the purity of the grape. The Ultreia Saint Jacques is often talked about as one of Raul Perez’s entry level” wines, but there is nothing entry level about it. This wine is beautifully made and gives a pure expression in the glass. On the nose is juicy red cherry and wild strawberry, with earthy bramble notes, soft mint, pepper, and a touch of violet. The palate delivers a powerful, medium bodied wine with soft tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Dried herbs and forest floor compliment dark fruit tones making this great with a variety of dishes including poultry, lamb, jamon, paella, and hard cheeses.
2020
Red Wine Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencia 2020
Red Wine Raul Perez Ultreia Valtuille Mencia 2020. No need to decant before drinking. Raul Perez Pereira has earned an almost cult following in recent years earning awards and accolades dubbing him one of the world’s best winemakers. His philosophy in winemaking is to honor the grape and the terroir and capture the authenticity of those things in the wine. Having been making wine since 1994 where he started at his family’s winery, he branched off in 2005 to start his own label and has been pivotal in putting Bierzo as an appellation in the spotlight. His family winery is the largest owner of Mencia, a grape that Raul has coaxed out of the shadows and continues to receive more acknowledgement. His focus on capturing place gives his wines an excellent terroir-driven quality that teleports consumers to his small Bierzo home Valtuille de Abajo. The grapes for the Valtuille are selected from the highest-altitude rows in the parcel. These specifically selected clusters are fermented in upright open-top vats and further spend one year in neutral barrels. The nose opens up with a floral bouquet that segways to red fruits, graphite, and savory earthiness. Grown on sandy soils, the wine showcases terroir with soft tannins and a rustic, mineral-driven palate with leather, licorice and dark plum. This wine is balanced and fresh and pairs well with beef stews, herbal-driven dishes, pastas, roasted vegetables and charcuterie.
2020
Red Wine Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir 2020. Highly allocated and hard to find, the Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from the Russian River Valley, arguably the most famous Pinot Noir appellation in the United States. Bright red in color, this wine has pomegranate, raspberry, and candied redcurrant aromas, with a peppery spiciness jumping from the glass. Floral tones with ripe plum and black cherry continue on the palate, which has silky and slightly gripping tannins that may soften with a few years of time in the cellar. This is classic, high quality Russian River Pinot; bright, focused, and sappy red fruit flavors dominating, but with a seamless and long finish. Fruit forward, medium bodied Pinot Noir such as this is perfect next to a roasted chicken with herb gremolata under the crisped skin. This would also be suitable the next day, with the leftovers made into a classic chicken salad sandwich. A great wine for lunch or dinner! Rochioli Vineyards farms and sells grapes from their almost 100 year old, 162 acre estate to some of the greatest producers of Pinot Noir in California: Williams-Selyem, Gary Farrell, and many others. However, this 3rd generation winemaking family also crafts its own stellar Pinot Noir, most of which is only available through the mailing list. Through clonal selection, they have been able to take full advantage of their soil’s diversity, and craft stunning wines that are highly sought after.
2020