2018 Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez “Valdecañada” Tinto, Bierzo, Spain

ABOUT THE WINE

The 2018 “Valdecañada” is one of Raúl Pérez’s most ethereal reds, made from old-vine Mencía (with small amounts of Bastardo and Garnacha Tintorera) grown in a remote, high-elevation site in the Valdecañada zone of western Bierzo. The vineyard sits at over 700 meters above sea level, where schist-laced soils and a cool, Atlantic-influenced climate yield grapes of delicacy and tension. Farmed organically and harvested by hand, the fruit is fermented with native yeasts, often with a portion of whole clusters, and aged in used barrels with minimal intervention.

In the glass, the wine is translucent and lifted—offering aromas of red currant, rose petal, mountain herbs, and wet stone. The palate is lean and linear, yet quietly complex, with flavors of tart red berries, tea leaf, and iron-like minerality. There's a natural coolness and savory edge to this wine that speaks directly to its elevation and isolation. It’s an ideal pairing for charred trout, roast pigeon, or lentils with chorizo, and it rewards decanting or short-term cellaring to open fully.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Raúl Pérez stands at the forefront of artisanal Spanish winemaking, revered for his uncanny ability to reveal site-specific nuance with elegance and authenticity. Though he hails from Bierzo, his influence extends globally, thanks to his intuitive, hands-off style and devotion to indigenous grapes. The “Valdecañada” bottling stems from his passion for forgotten vineyards in remote corners of Bierzo—areas once dismissed for being too cool or rugged but now reappraised through his lens of precision and patience.

Working with ancient vines and traditional methods, Pérez allows nature to dictate the process: organic farming, native yeast fermentations, little to no new oak, and bottling without filtration. Through wines like “Valdecañada,” he captures the soul of Bierzo’s wildest expressions, reaffirming that great wine speaks softly but leaves a lasting echo.