Bierzo Tinto, 'El Rapolao'

Score

95

"The 2022 El Rapolao Lomas de Valtuille is 100% Mencía from Valtuille, fermented with whole clusters and aged in 500-liter barrels. Its classic Mencía aromas, though restrained, lead to an agile, compact palate. Fine-grained tannins and bright acidity add tension and grip, with whole-cluster fermentation adding aromatic complexity. The finish is sanguine and precise, delivering finesse, herbal notes and vibrant energy in Raúl Pérez's signature style. The 2022 vintage truly showcases the winemaker's expertise."

Score

93

"A very warm and ripe wine with intense dark fruit and characteristic mint and forest aromas typical of the paraje. The sweet fruit reflects the warm vintage but there is significant acidity that drives the wine and brings great energy. Aging is undertaken in a mix of foudres and barrels which don,t interfere with the fruit, rather they frame it, and tannins are punchy and a touch rustic, again very much of the zone. A powerful and concentrated wine. 2024-30"

Score

93

"The 2022 La Vizca¡na El Rapolao is also dark and ripe, reflecting the very warm and dry conditions of the year. It has the grapes from the same plot they always used‡now their property‡plus another plot that has some more Alicante Bouschet. It fermented with 100% full clusters. The wine from the original plot matured in used barrels, and the new (which is old) plot matured in an used foudre. The idea is to move all of the wines to foudre; but they find that the wines get reduced, so they are going slowly. It has some oak and a sensation of high ripeness. The wine is clean but feels quite ripe and has black rather than red fruit and an earthy touch with notes of licorice and pepper. It has abundant, slightly dusty tannins. There are some 9,000 bottles."

Score

95

Score

93

"As I mentioned last year, the El Rapolao vineyard is not quite as old on average as the La Poulosa vineyard, as half of El Rapolao was replanted in 1980. However, the older half of the vineyard dates back to 1920! It is the same classic Bierzo field blend of Menc¡a with Alicante Bouschet (Garnacha Tintorera) and Trousseau (Bastardo) co-planted in both sections. The wine is fermented with one hundred percent whole clusters and raised in a combination of older Burgundy barrels and demi-muids for one year, prior to bottling without fining or filtration. The 2021 El Rapolao is a touch reductive when first opened, but with a bit of air, offers up a deep and complex nose of dark berries, tree bark, smoked meats, dark soil tones, coffee grounds, a lovely array of botanicals, youthful stem tones and a topnote of distant bonfire. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and nicely tangy, with excellent mid-palate depth and soil signature, ripe tannins and fine length and grip on the beautifully balanced, youthful finish. This will demand some time in the cellar to properly blossom, but will be excellent juice once it is ready to drink. 2032-3075."

Score

92

"High toned and floral, with accents of tea rose, violet and sage, plus a well-spiced range of warmed cherry and raspberry coulis, singed orange peel, graphite and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, offering fresh acidity, with chalky tannins lending a bit more weight and definition through the finish. Decant. Best from 2026 through 2031. 625 cases made, 350 cases imported."

Score

96

Score

93+

Score

95

Score

94