Region: Castilla Y Leon, Spain
Appellation: Bierzo
Color/Style: Red Wine
Grapes: Mencia, Trousseau, Alicante Bouschet, Palomino

A mencía-dominant field blend with Bastardo (Trousseau), Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Palomino, Doña Blanca and more • blended from many different parcels, mostly planted between the 1890s and the 1940s in and around Valtuille de Abajo on clay, alluvial stones and sand • 50-60% whole-cluster spontaneous fermentation in 13000L open-top oak vats with 60-day-plus post-fermentation maceration • racked to 225-500L barrels for elevage until the next harvest • unfined and unfiltered 

"The 2021 Ultreia 'St. Jacques bottling from Ra£l P,rez is yet another excellent wine from these very old vines. The wine is a Menc¡a-dominated field blend made from ancient vineyards, planted between 1900 and 1940, so even the 'young vines here are more than eighty years of age! The wine is made with a high percentage of whole clusters and aged in a mix of various-sized, old oak casks and puncheons, as well as some cement tanks. The 2021 St. Jacques comes in at 13.5 percent octane and delivers a refined aromatic constellation of cassis, pomegranate, tree bark, espresso, a lovely base of dark soil tones, discreet Menc¡a botanicals and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, complex and full-bodied, with impeccable focus and balance, a fine core of black fruit, excellent soil undertow and grip, buried tannins and a long, poised and classy finish. This is certainly approachable today, but will be even better if the tannins are allowed at least a handful of years to soften up further. It is an excellent and very elegant vintage for this bottling! 2024-2075." -JG 94