2021 Cesar Marquez Perez La Salvacion Godello

Cesar Marquez has Bierzo running through his veins, and is the latest generation of the Perez family to own the leading Castro Ventosa winery in north-western Spain. Growing up around surrounded by the region's leading exponents, including a lengthy apprenticeship with one of the world's greatest winemakers, his uncle Raul Perez, has shaped much of what Cesar values in wine. While he still manages the family estate, Cezar started his own venture in 2015, and is already one of the most exciting young prospects in Spain.

Having a deep understanding and access to some of the best vineyards Bierzo has to offer, Cezar focuses on preserving purity and freshness, highlighting the promise Mencia has in the right place when made with attention to detail. Cezar is structuring his line-up of wines in Burgundian fashion, making a broader appellation wine, a village wine, along with several single vineyard offerings. Winemaking is similar on all wines, with grapes partially destemmed and fermented in open barriques, before spending 12 months in old barrels without any racking or top ups before bottling the following winter. These are wines that are not just great examples of Bierzo Mencia, but wines that truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest from any region or country.

La Salvacion is a Godello cuvee from the east facing Argaza vineyard situated at 700 meters altitude with clay soils.

Other Reviews....
The spectacular white Godello 2021 La Salvación was produced with grapes from a one-hectare centenary plot in Arganza, the northernmost and cooler village in Bierzo, a plot that was regrafted from Mencía some 17 years ago. The destemmed grapes were pressed in a pneumatic press, and the juice fermented in 500-liter oak barrels after setting for 24 hours. It matured in those barrels for one year, with the lees but without bâtonnage. It has 12.56% alcohol and very good freshness and acidity, consistent with a cold year, with an expressive nose of dry flowers and pollen, aromatic and showy, open and clean, very precise and pure. It has less alcohol than the previous year, with a super fresh palate. 5,200 bottles were filled in August 2022. Drink 2023-2029.
95+ points
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (Aug 11, 2023)