Eenie, meenie, miney, moe, to what wine region should we go? Navarra, Jumilla, Rioja but no. Let’s go to Bierzo in the northwest region of Spain. The grape variety in this area is the ever popular Mencia. The wine was tasted about two months ago with an associate along with several other Raúl Pérez selections. Each one was truly exceptional but the Ultreia Saint Jacques 2017 was the ideal candidate for a Wines Under the Radar post.
The Raúl Pérez Bierzo ‘Ultreia Saint Jacques’ 2017 is dark purple in color and the aromatics are just beautiful dark cherry and blueberries. There is a faint hint of smoke and a definite mineral note. The flavors all follow suit in perfect harmony. This medium-bodied offering is so smooth on the palate and finish. Really exceptional wine that can be found in the retail market for between $17 – $20. Wines Under the Radar gives this a big thumbs up!
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Wine Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León, Spain
Grape(s): Mostly Mencía with Bastardo (Trousseau), Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet)
Soil: Clay
Vinification: 80% whole cluster fermentation in large oak vats. Macerations of between two and five months. Aging in various vessels: 225L, 500L, foudre and cement. Bottled without fining or filtration.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 8,000 cases