Cesar Marquez - Bierzo 'El Rapolao' Mencia - 2022

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. 96 Points Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate