Country: Spain Region: Ribeira Sacra Varietal: Mencia Vintage: 2020 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Raul Perez Description: Raúl Pérez Pereira is universally considered to be one of the world’s most visionary winemakers. Since he produced his first vintage for his family’s winery in 1994 at the age 22, he has been in the forefront of the conversation about what has been called “The New Spain”. In 2005, he left his family business to strike out on his own, creating Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez, which quickly became the point of reference for the Bierzo appellation. In the intervening years, he has expanded his sphere of activity to include the appellations of Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra and Tierra de León, but his heart and his home remain in Valtuille de Abajo, the village in Bierzo where his family has been tending vines for well over 300 years. 'Ultreia Saint Jacques' is a Mencia, fermented and macerated for 2 months in vats sourced from Vega Sicilia and the aged in barrel for a further 9 to 10 months. Fresh and floral on the nose, with a hint of coffee, it is round and expressive on the palate, with plummy fruits and a little gaminess. A wine that offers well about its price. The nose is an explosion of flowers and ripe fruit, with an intriguing herbaceous note. It is now a more serious wine than the initial vintages, a full grown-up rather than a kid. The medium-bodied palate shows dried roses, and is long and uncomplicated, a touch sweet. It is great value- if you can find it! It’s the bigger-volume wine of the winery, but only 9,000 bottles are produced.