2022 Cesar Marquez Perez El Rapolao Mencia

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.

Rapolao is the coolest of the single vineyard wines, located in the village of Valtuille and is certainly the most famous vineyard in Bierzo.

Other Reviews....
I love the elegant, floral and nuanced nose of the 2022 El Rapolao, sourced from a plot in the coldest part of the village, where the soils are rich in iron and organic matter. It fermented with 25% full clusters in small 1,000-liter vats, with a short maceration of 17 days and an élevage in used 500-liter oak barrels. It has 13.31% alcohol, a pH of 3.69 and 4.98 grams of acidity. It has a balanced and elegant profile, with lots of finesse, and it's very harmonious, floral and perfumed. It has a serious mouthfeel that is nicely textured, with very fine tannins. This is a triumph over the vintage. It is elegant and harmonious. 1,980 bottles were filled in December 2023. Drink 2024-2034.
96 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (Jun 21, 2024)