2014 Valtuille El Rapolao

Sourced from a zone within Valtuille that has already been bottled by Raúl Pérez and Diego Magaña, the first bottling from Castro Ventosa is the 2014 Valtuille El Rapolao from very old vines, planted with a mixture of varieties, mainly Mencía but also with others like Estaladiña, Garnacha Tintorera and Souson. It fermented with 100% full clusters in 5,000-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts. This vineyard tends to produce elegant and fresh wines, a character that seems amplified by the character of the year. There is an herbal twist that provides freshness, intermixed with earthy notes. There are some dusty tannins, fine grained, balanced, tasty and long. Very elegant and balanced, with all that is needed to develop nicely in bottle. Some 1,100 bottled in December 2016. Aug 2017, www.robertparker.com, Drink: 2017-2026