Savoury with bright cherry fruit this had a lively bite and vibrancy. Underpinned with pleasing tannins, this was funky and gamey developing a smooth silky texture with a very satisfactory finish. Nicely judged and a much better bottle than when last tried a few weeks earlier. CHP 90 pts
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Initial notes of talc and furred game were a little off-putting but underlying this there was sweet blackcurrant fruit supported with some pleasing tannins. Reasonably bright and fresh it had a sweet-fruited lingering finish. Not a bad wine, but I think the Bretty notes put me off so I was a bit underwhelmed and disappointed. A real shame as the wine-maker has an excellent pedigree and I’d been dying to try this for some time. CHP 88 pts
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Much better than previous bottles. Lots of fruit and elegance on the palate. Not an overly complex wine but tasty juice for the price. Raul Perez is an oenological genius.
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I think this style is something you love or don’t… Not my wheelhouse Too much funk, tomato, green pepper mixed in an odd melange of other fruit flavors… It’s everywhere yet nowhere for me… Oddity, curiosity yes Repeat buy… no.
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Bierzo is one of my favorite styles, it never disappoints. But this one from Paul Perez wineries is a real gem! Elegant power in every sip. It is still fruity with notes of cherry and blackberries, yet demonstrates earthy tones with mushroom and leather. Nice acidity is the backbone of this wine. Tannins are medium+, but they are not harsh at all. Overall it is perfectly balanced, real pleasure.
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Une robe rubis claire. Un nez d'épices, de crottin de cheval, de caca et de cerise. Une bouche marqué par le poivre, le cheval, les épices et le caca. Les tanins sont piquants.
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Eerste minuut enorm florale en kruidige neus, maar direct daarna ingetogener. Alsof de wijn zich schaamde om zich aan de buitenwereld te laten zien. Nergens voor nodig. Langzaam komt het terug, wat aardser en bossiger, dat wel, gevolgd door wat meer kaneel en kruidnagel. In de mond lekker energiek, zachte tannines en toch aanwezig. Ook hier hebben de smaken de tijd nodig: kersen, groene kruiden, specerijen, paddestoelen, rijp donker fruit e een finish met een bittertje.
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Sad to say I didn’t really get this. I loved the Raul Perez Ultreia at half the price: this is a cru bottling on rootstocks from 1881 and subject to a couple of outrageously high scores from reliable critics (97 pts from Robert Parker, 95 from Vinous).
I was expecting something special with exuberance, complexity and concentration and I only picked up a similar impression to that I got from the Ultreia: medium body with a compelling nose of red and blue fruit, spice, game. Medium body and well-resolved, fine tannins. It’s all very nice but I was expecting fireworks.
Whole cluster fermentation in large oak vats. 60-90 day maceration followed by one year of ageing in used 225 and 500 litre barrels. Bottled without fining or filtration.
Meaty, peppery nose. Creamy mouthfeel with blackberries, sage, balsam, and bacon. Reminds me of Rhone aromatically and because of the fruit sweetness, but the texture is very Nuits-Saint-Georges, with the same kind of tannins. Very well balanced. Drinks well now - 2030.
From the beautiful 2018 vintage, this is Perez' most successful Lomas de Valtuille bottling even though the Rapolao and Gundiñas bottlings are also great.
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Wine is improving…giving precise clean bright fruit acidity and minerality with just enough funk to keep it interesting and questioning what the grape is…. Good but doubt I would repurchase…
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Bold nose with fruit, incense and a hint of smoke. Complex flavors, headed by deep black cherry and black raspberry, with charcuterie and that bitter herb finish I get with many Raul Perez wines. Concentrated and persistent, but not heavy, with fine tannins. Somewhat reminiscent of a high-quality Burgundy, maybe crossed with a bit of Chateauneuf du Pape. Better than expected and impressive overall.
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Komplexe Nase, Kirsche, dunkle Beeren, Himbeere, Rauch, Eisen. Gaumen saftig, viel Frucht, auch bisschen grüne Noten und ordentlich adstringierend, das Tannin ist aber schon jetzt recht fein. Die satte Frucht geht über in eine zupackende, endlos lange und auch bitter-salzige Mineralik. Alles fein und beieinander, komplex, schwebend, filigran, schlank, präzise. Mit 97 Parker-Punkten der höchstbewertete Raúl-Perez-Wein, da gehe ich nicht ganz mit, aber großartig ist das schon, gerade für das Geld. (95+).
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Really coming into its own after about four hours in the decanter and then presenting an unusual and irresistible crisp creaminess of seamless fruit and elusive whispers. Nuanced and subtle in a way that was surprisingly overpowered by both paella and slow roasted pork. Based on this testing, decant and drink this on its own 2024-2028.
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Upon opening the bottle, a wonderfully dark crimson, barely translucent wine on the eye. Nose reveals that this is very serious. Dark, brooding, firm. The nose already suggests strongly to let it breath for a while (I managed thirty minutes before taking a first sip, an hour would be better). Mouth follows the nose. Tastes unlike anything other wine that I know of. Blackberries and other dark fruit, licorice. Something like an amarone or primitivo but without the thrust of alcohol and sweetness. An outspoken Mencia. Acidity strikes after a few seconds, suggesting more air. Mellows out well in the hours that follow, more raspberries, more a new world pinot noir. Wonderful. 93 for today. Next bottle will receive more years and, when open, longer air. I seriously look forward.
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Lots of berries, quiet a full mouth, but easily counterbalanced by the fruity acidity. Some minerals later on. A bit too much acids at the end. Wonderful wine
But: Needs tons of time to open up
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Well an additional 6 months in bottle didn’t change anything… Thinking I will give it a year from now to see if it develops differently.. Nose is still that funk, earth,iodine, tomato fruit perhaps, green pepper. Red fruit at first and then all those nose flavors all sort of burst together on a rather juicy tartish finish… Stick by previous note,, interesting…glad I have a few bottles.. not sure everyone will love it nor will I rush out to buy more… A give it props for the unusualness…
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This wine of the earth features a bouquet of pomegranate, red plum, assorted olives, drying tobacco, herbs, worn leather, iodine, dried blood, loam, weathered clay pots, rusted iron, and saline desert sandiness. The latter element puts the mind to Old World styled Argentine blends. Interesting, unique, and technically excellent.
Conversely, the wine weakens in concentration and body from attack to finish. Moreover, on both days, the back and finish showed thinness and bitter herbaceous elements. This greenness will not fade, and for this reason there is no point holding bottles beyond 2025 or so. The WA 97 and V 95 scores are thus grossly inflated. 90-91.
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After 30 minutes in the decanter this barely budged. Pleasant now, but it needs several more years before it offers enjoyment. Dark/red fruit, earth, with light tannins. 90-92
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There you have it: my value of the year! And we are not even halfway! What a fantastic wine for under 25 EUR. A hypothetical blend of pinot noir and syrah with some additional punch / edge to it. Great intensity and tension, mid-weight, long floral, crushed rock, fine dark fruit. Beatiful acidity and a healthy tannic structure. Fantastic and going long on this one. Could easily hold its own against bottles 3 times the price. Really serious winemaking going on here. I love this wine!
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- Brick color and aromas of dusty, cherry and cedar. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry and black pepper with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Decanted two and a half hours. Cellar much longer, still very young.
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An interesting wine...interesting grape.... Very fruit forward with some funk, some earth, ...... Want to give it a little bottle time before deciding on a rating... Definitely know you are enjoying a new varietal... 2nd night....I get the other reviewer’s idea thinking it’s sort of northern Rhone ish..... it’s a wine to be tried...not sure it’s everyone cup of tea though....
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What a wonderful wine, and at $35-40 a bottle, a bargain. This varietal, Mencia, grows in northwest Spain and Portugal, and Raul Perez is highly regarded as the “wizard of wine” not only for wines like this, but for his expressive albariño. Tasting blind, you could fairly guess this as small production Northern Rhone syrah /grenache blend in a cool vintage, or maybe make a case for it being an oddball burgundy. Lots of iodine, decayed violets, lilac, bloody band aid, prune and wet wool in the nose from the great terpenoids. A wine of serious intensity, near medicinal concentration in a lighter body, with vibrant acidity and notes of roses, bittersweet dark chocolate and black cherry pits. A 40 second finish, marred by just a little metallic herbaceousness, and tannins prominent but not offensive. Great drinking for 10 years, at least. Try w Chinese roast duck, or meaty stews.
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4/27/2024 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Savoury with bright cherry fruit this had a lively bite and vibrancy. Underpinned with pleasing tannins, this was funky and gamey developing a smooth silky texture with a very satisfactory finish. Nicely judged and a much better bottle than when last tried a few weeks earlier. CHP 90 pts
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4/13/2024 - platpeeps wrote: 88 Points
Initial notes of talc and furred game were a little off-putting but underlying this there was sweet blackcurrant fruit supported with some pleasing tannins. Reasonably bright and fresh it had a sweet-fruited lingering finish. Not a bad wine, but I think the Bretty notes put me off so I was a bit underwhelmed and disappointed. A real shame as the wine-maker has an excellent pedigree and I’d been dying to try this for some time. CHP 88 pts
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1/25/2024 - mimik Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than previous bottles. Lots of fruit and elegance on the palate. Not an overly complex wine but tasty juice for the price. Raul Perez is an oenological genius.
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1/22/2024 - Oknoman Likes this wine: 98 Points
Delicious, lots of personality
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11/22/2023 - KJD45$ wrote: 88 Points
I think this style is something you love or don’t…
Not my wheelhouse
Too much funk, tomato, green pepper mixed in an odd melange of other fruit flavors…
It’s everywhere yet nowhere for me…
Oddity, curiosity yes
Repeat buy… no.
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6/24/2023 - gavail Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bierzo is one of my favorite styles, it never disappoints. But this one from Paul Perez wineries is a real gem! Elegant power in every sip. It is still fruity with notes of cherry and blackberries, yet demonstrates earthy tones with mushroom and leather. Nice acidity is the backbone of this wine. Tannins are medium+, but they are not harsh at all. Overall it is perfectly balanced, real pleasure.
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4/24/2023 - Harrie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same impression as my march 2022 note. A grat wine, yet barely open for business.
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3/17/2023 - Overdiep wrote: 72 Points
Well made, but not a type or style I really prefer.
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2/18/2023 - Rodenbach99 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Une robe rubis claire. Un nez d'épices, de crottin de cheval, de caca et de cerise. Une bouche marqué par le poivre, le cheval, les épices et le caca. Les tanins sont piquants.
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12/27/2022 - Steven184 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Eerste minuut enorm florale en kruidige neus, maar direct daarna ingetogener. Alsof de wijn zich schaamde om zich aan de buitenwereld te laten zien. Nergens voor nodig. Langzaam komt het terug, wat aardser en bossiger, dat wel, gevolgd door wat meer kaneel en kruidnagel. In de mond lekker energiek, zachte tannines en toch aanwezig. Ook hier hebben de smaken de tijd nodig: kersen, groene kruiden, specerijen, paddestoelen, rijp donker fruit e een finish met een bittertje.
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11/15/2022 - Joshvoulters wrote: 89 Points
Sad to say I didn’t really get this. I loved the Raul Perez Ultreia at half the price: this is a cru bottling on rootstocks from 1881 and subject to a couple of outrageously high scores from reliable critics (97 pts from Robert Parker, 95 from Vinous).
I was expecting something special with exuberance, complexity and concentration and I only picked up a similar impression to that I got from the Ultreia: medium body with a compelling nose of red and blue fruit, spice, game. Medium body and well-resolved, fine tannins. It’s all very nice but I was expecting fireworks.
Whole cluster fermentation in large oak vats. 60-90 day maceration followed by one year of ageing in used 225 and 500 litre barrels. Bottled without fining or filtration.
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11/4/2022 - BoxerBee Likes this wine: 93 Points
Meaty, peppery nose. Creamy mouthfeel with blackberries, sage, balsam, and bacon. Reminds me of Rhone aromatically and because of the fruit sweetness, but the texture is very Nuits-Saint-Georges, with the same kind of tannins. Very well balanced. Drinks well now - 2030.
From the beautiful 2018 vintage, this is Perez' most successful Lomas de Valtuille bottling even though the Rapolao and Gundiñas bottlings are also great.
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10/11/2022 - WilD wrote: 92 Points
Fine delicate wine.
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9/5/2022 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wine is improving…giving precise clean bright fruit
acidity and minerality with just enough funk to keep it interesting and questioning what the grape is….
Good but doubt I would repurchase…
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8/6/2022 - henrijanssen wrote: 88 Points
Volle wijn braambes Aardse leer paddenstoel
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7/23/2022 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
Bold nose with fruit, incense and a hint of smoke. Complex flavors, headed by deep black cherry and black raspberry, with charcuterie and that bitter herb finish I get with many Raul Perez wines. Concentrated and persistent, but not heavy, with fine tannins. Somewhat reminiscent of a high-quality Burgundy, maybe crossed with a bit of Chateauneuf du Pape. Better than expected and impressive overall.
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6/16/2022 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Not as expressive as my previous bottle but still nice.
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6/13/2022 - AndreasMuc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Alk. 13,%%, Mencia 100%.
Komplexe Nase, Kirsche, dunkle Beeren, Himbeere, Rauch, Eisen. Gaumen saftig, viel Frucht, auch bisschen grüne Noten und ordentlich adstringierend, das Tannin ist aber schon jetzt recht fein. Die satte Frucht geht über in eine zupackende, endlos lange und auch bitter-salzige Mineralik. Alles fein und beieinander, komplex, schwebend, filigran, schlank, präzise. Mit 97 Parker-Punkten der höchstbewertete Raúl-Perez-Wein, da gehe ich nicht ganz mit, aber großartig ist das schon, gerade für das Geld. (95+).
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4/16/2022 - Rollerball wrote:
Really coming into its own after about four hours in the decanter and then presenting an unusual and irresistible crisp creaminess of seamless fruit and elusive whispers. Nuanced and subtle in a way that was surprisingly overpowered by both paella and slow roasted pork. Based on this testing, decant and drink this on its own 2024-2028.
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3/17/2022 - Harrie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Upon opening the bottle, a wonderfully dark crimson, barely translucent wine on the eye.
Nose reveals that this is very serious. Dark, brooding, firm.
The nose already suggests strongly to let it breath for a while (I managed thirty minutes before taking a first sip, an hour would be better).
Mouth follows the nose. Tastes unlike anything other wine that I know of. Blackberries and other dark fruit, licorice. Something like an amarone or primitivo but without the thrust of alcohol and sweetness. An outspoken Mencia. Acidity strikes after a few seconds, suggesting more air.
Mellows out well in the hours that follow, more raspberries, more a new world pinot noir. Wonderful.
93 for today. Next bottle will receive more years and, when open, longer air. I seriously look forward.
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2/11/2022 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Getting bettter,,,,,that’s all I have to say
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11/27/2021 - JohannesGlugla Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of berries, quiet a full mouth, but easily counterbalanced by the fruity acidity. Some minerals later on. A bit too much acids at the end. Wonderful wine
But: Needs tons of time to open up
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11/15/2021 - slabslovin wrote: 91 Points
Closed and tight right now. Nice bouquet. Might hold onto the other bottle for another 5 years.
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8/25/2021 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well an additional 6 months in bottle didn’t change anything…
Thinking I will give it a year from now to see if it develops differently..
Nose is still that funk, earth,iodine, tomato fruit perhaps, green pepper.
Red fruit at first and then all those nose flavors all sort of burst together on a rather juicy tartish finish…
Stick by previous note,, interesting…glad I have a few bottles.. not sure everyone will love it nor will I rush out to buy more…
A give it props for the unusualness…
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8/1/2021 - javierbb Likes this wine: 96 Points
Muy bueno, pero por el momento beber el vino de villa de castro ventosa y saint jacques, ambos del 2018. Este hay que esperarlo al menos 2-3 añitos
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7/14/2021 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over two days.
This wine of the earth features a bouquet of pomegranate, red plum, assorted olives, drying tobacco, herbs, worn leather, iodine, dried blood, loam, weathered clay pots, rusted iron, and saline desert sandiness. The latter element puts the mind to Old World styled Argentine blends. Interesting, unique, and technically excellent.
Conversely, the wine weakens in concentration and body from attack to finish. Moreover, on both days, the back and finish showed thinness and bitter herbaceous elements. This greenness will not fade, and for this reason there is no point holding bottles beyond 2025 or so. The WA 97 and V 95 scores are thus grossly inflated. 90-91.
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5/23/2021 - Bathtub58 Likes this wine: 90 Points
After 30 minutes in the decanter this barely budged. Pleasant now, but it needs several more years before it offers enjoyment. Dark/red fruit, earth, with light tannins. 90-92
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5/11/2021 - Roughl Likes this wine: 93 Points
There you have it: my value of the year! And we are not even halfway! What a fantastic wine for under 25 EUR. A hypothetical blend of pinot noir and syrah with some additional punch / edge to it. Great intensity and tension, mid-weight, long floral, crushed rock, fine dark fruit. Beatiful acidity and a healthy tannic structure. Fantastic and going long on this one. Could easily hold its own against bottles 3 times the price. Really serious winemaking going on here. I love this wine!
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3/1/2021 - ey1294 wrote: 93 Points
- Brick color and aromas of dusty, cherry and cedar. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry and black pepper with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Decanted two and a half hours. Cellar much longer, still very young.
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2/10/2021 - KJD45$ Likes this wine:
An interesting wine...interesting grape....
Very fruit forward with some funk, some earth, ......
Want to give it a little bottle time before deciding on a rating...
Definitely know you are enjoying a new varietal...
2nd night....I get the other reviewer’s idea thinking it’s sort of northern Rhone ish..... it’s a wine to be tried...not sure it’s everyone cup of tea though....
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12/15/2020 - David_K wrote: flawed
Corked.
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12/5/2020 - OenoEd Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a wonderful wine, and at $35-40 a bottle, a bargain. This varietal, Mencia, grows in northwest Spain and Portugal, and Raul Perez is highly regarded as the “wizard of wine” not only for wines like this, but for his expressive albariño. Tasting blind, you could fairly guess this as small production Northern Rhone syrah /grenache blend in a cool vintage, or maybe make a case for it being an oddball burgundy. Lots of iodine, decayed violets, lilac, bloody band aid, prune and wet wool in the nose from the great terpenoids. A wine of serious intensity, near medicinal concentration in a lighter body, with vibrant acidity and notes of roses, bittersweet dark chocolate and black cherry pits. A 40 second finish, marred by just a little metallic herbaceousness, and tannins prominent but not offensive. Great drinking for 10 years, at least. Try w Chinese roast duck, or meaty stews.
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