Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencia 2023

Drink now or cellar for up to 20 years. 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.