Raul Perez, Ultreia Saint Jacques 2023, Bierzo
3 in stock
Saint Jacques is by far the most important wine I make,” says Raúl. It is named after the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, which passes through the region (Santiago is also known as Saint Jacques). This Mencía-based village blend hails from several vineyards planted on clay and sandy soils within a two-mile radius, with about 80% of the fruit being whole-bunch fermented. It is an excellent introduction to the range and offers great value.
The ‘Saint Jacques’ blends Mencía, Alicante Bouschet, Trousseau, Godello, Palomino and Doña Blanca from old bush vines, the majority of which are over 100 years old. 60% of the fruit comes from Raúl’s own vineyards, which are farmed following organic principles, the remainder is sourced from his trusted grower network, who also farm sustainably. Soils are predominantly clay-based with pockets of sand, gravel and iron. The signature finesse of the ‘Saint Jacques’ is the result of meticulously chosen picking dates, with harvest of the over 100 vineyard plots that make up the blend typically taking over a month to complete.
The Ultreia ‘Saint Jacques’, which takes its name from the Camino de Santiago, is an excellent introduction to the Raúl Pérez range and offers great value. Floral and fruit-driven on the nose, aromas of raspberries and blackberries burst out of the glass. Fine-grained tannins on the palate with a lifted acidity that drives the juicy berry fruit onto the crisp finish.
