2018 Valtuille El Rapolao
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Tasting notes
Vivid ruby-red. A highly complex bouquet displays an array of red and blue fruits, exotic spices and pungent flowers, along with smoky mineral, cola and botanical herb flourishes. Alluringly sweet, animated and penetrating on the palate, offering intense, spice-laced cherry, black raspberry and boysenberry flavors underscored by a core of juicy acidity. The floral and spice notes drive an impressively long and precise finish that's framed by discreet, harmonious tannins.
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Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Valtuille El Rapolao, like the rest of the single-vineyard wines, has not been bottled separately since 2015. This comes from the coolest paraje of Valtuille, as it gets the sun for one full hour after the rest of vineyards of the village. This was harvested early and matured exclusively in 500-liter oak barrels; it has lower alcohol and is more elegant than the 2014 and 2015. This was a little closed at first and needed some time in the glass to open up. It's a more floral and refined version of Villegas, with more layers, more depth and complexity. There's no rusticity here, which was in the character of the 2014 and 2015. Impressive! 1,700 bottles were filled in May 2020.