Raul Perez 'Ultreia de Valtuille' 2022 750ml

Product Info

95pts Wine Advocate
The 2022 Ultreia Valtuille comes from different plots in the lieu-dit of Villegas. The wine has contained alcohol but has a roundness and a ripe sensation on the nose. They are using 25% foudres for the élevage here, and that percentage will be increased in the future. It has a medium to full-bodied palate with abundant, slightly dusty tannins. Some 4,800 bottles produced. Drink Date: 2024 - 2029

Raúl Pérez has bought some of the plots he used to vinify for the La Vizcaína range. In 2022, he used less full clusters for the fermentation of the reds. The single-vineyard bottlings of the Ultreia range are gradually being moved to oak foudres, and he's leaving the barriques. The wines from 2022 are ripe and clean, and they didn't have the flor that they had in some previous years. Published: Jun 20, 2024 Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Terroir
Ultreia de Valtuille is sourced from the steep, high-altitude slopes of Valtuille de Abajo in Bierzo’s western reaches, where old-vine Mencía grows on a complex patchwork of sandy loam, slate, quartzite, and decomposed clay. These parcels—many over 80 years old—benefit from Bierzo’s unique confluence of Atlantic freshness and continental warmth, yielding grapes with both ripeness and tension. The diurnal swings in this corner of the valley help preserve vivid aromatics while the poor, mineral-rich soils encourage low vigor, concentrating the fruit and accentuating the vineyard’s stony signature. Each site Raúl selects for Ultreia captures a distinct blend of florality, finesse, and earth, resulting in a wine that is unmistakably rooted in its place.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Raúl Pérez continues his hallmark low-intervention, intuition-driven approach, using whole clusters and extremely gentle extraction to protect Mencía’s natural elegance. Fermentation typically takes place in open wooden vats with native yeasts, giving the wine a slow, expressive evolution. Maceration is extended but delicate, favoring infusion over force. Aging is carried out in well-seasoned barrels or foudres to avoid imparting overt oak, allowing the terroir and the grape’s red-fruited purity to shine. Minimal racking, minimal sulfur, and a patient élevage result in a wine that feels alive, aromatic, and texturally intricate. Bottling is done without unnecessary fining or filtration to maintain integrity.

Tasting Notes
The 2022 Ultreia de Valtuille opens with a beautifully lifted bouquet of crushed raspberry, dried rose petals, wild strawberry, and fresh herbs, underpinned by subtle notes of granite dust and black tea. The palate is vibrant and linear, showing that signature Pérez interplay of delicacy and depth. Fine, chalk-edged tannins glide beneath flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, and blood orange, while hints of graphite, violets, and savory spice emerge as it evolves in the glass. The finish is long, saline, and quietly powerful—never heavy, always humming with energy and nuance. It is one of the purest expressions of modern Bierzo: ethereal yet substantial, graceful yet persistent.

Food Pairing & Service
This wine excels with dishes that echo its brightness and finesse: roasted duck with orange and herbs, ember-grilled pork tenderloin, mushroom tart, Catalan-style roasted vegetables, or mild sheep’s milk cheeses. Its aromatic lift and fine tannin make it especially versatile for pairing with earthy or lightly smoky preparations. Serve slightly cool—around 58–60°F—to emphasize freshness and detail. A gentle decant of 30 minutes enhances its floral perfume and clarifies the minerality. This vintage is approachable now but will reward 5–10 years of patient cellaring as the structure relaxes and the savory nuances deepen.