Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León, Spain
Grapes: 100% Mencía
Body: Medium
Notes: Fresh wild blackberry, tart pomegranate, crushed violets, dried lavender, wet slate, and a hint of white pepper, with a driving mountain acidity, ultra-fine tannins, and a long, chalky mineral finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, seared duck breast, roasted pork tenderloin, wild mushroom risotto, octopus a feira, or aged Manchego cheese
The Producer
Raúl Pérez is widely considered one of the most visionary and influential winemakers in modern Spain, renowned for resurrecting the high-altitude, steep-sloped old vines of Bierzo. Working with ancient, field-blended plots in Valtuille de Abajo, Pérez champions organic viticulture, indigenous grape varieties, and minimal intervention. In the cellar, his approach is profoundly traditional yet avant-garde: whole-cluster spontaneous fermentations using wild yeasts, long and gentle cap macerations, aging in large neutral oak foudres or clay amphorae, and bottling without fining or filtration to allow the unique slate and clay soils of Bierzo to express themselves without wood masking.
The Wine
"Ultreia Saint Jacques" is Raúl Pérez's homage to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route that traverses his native Bierzo region. Sourced from century-old, dry-farmed vines planted on slate and clay soils across multiple historic parcels, the hand-harvested Mencía grapes (alongside trace co-planted field varieties) undergo spontaneous whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts in large open-top wooden vats. Aged in a combination of old oak foudres and neutral barrels before bottling without filtration, the 2023 vintage displays remarkable aromatic floral elegance, crunchy dark berry fruit, electric granite-driven minerality, and silky, food-friendly tannins.
Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León, Spain
Grapes: 100% Mencía
Body: Medium
Notes: Fresh wild blackberry, tart pomegranate, crushed violets, dried lavender, wet slate, and a hint of white pepper, with a driving mountain acidity, ultra-fine tannins, and a long, chalky mineral finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, seared duck breast, roasted pork tenderloin, wild mushroom risotto, octopus a feira, or aged Manchego cheese
The Producer
Raúl Pérez is widely considered one of the most visionary and influential winemakers in modern Spain, renowned for resurrecting the high-altitude, steep-sloped old vines of Bierzo. Working with ancient, field-blended plots in Valtuille de Abajo, Pérez champions organic viticulture, indigenous grape varieties, and minimal intervention. In the cellar, his approach is profoundly traditional yet avant-garde: whole-cluster spontaneous fermentations using wild yeasts, long and gentle cap macerations, aging in large neutral oak foudres or clay amphorae, and bottling without fining or filtration to allow the unique slate and clay soils of Bierzo to express themselves without wood masking.
The Wine
"Ultreia Saint Jacques" is Raúl Pérez's homage to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route that traverses his native Bierzo region. Sourced from century-old, dry-farmed vines planted on slate and clay soils across multiple historic parcels, the hand-harvested Mencía grapes (alongside trace co-planted field varieties) undergo spontaneous whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts in large open-top wooden vats. Aged in a combination of old oak foudres and neutral barrels before bottling without filtration, the 2023 vintage displays remarkable aromatic floral elegance, crunchy dark berry fruit, electric granite-driven minerality, and silky, food-friendly tannins.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.