2022 Raul Perez Ultreia St. Jacques
If you ever wanted a window into what Spain’s northwestern wildlands feel like in a glass, this is it. Raúl Pérez—often described as a wizard, monk, or winemaker possessed by ancient vines—crafts Ultreia St. Jacques as a love letter to Bierzo’s rugged hillsides and soulful history. This is Mencía at its most effortless: vibrant, earthy, and quietly spellbinding.
Raúl Pérez is one of the most influential winemakers in the world—famous for letting nature speak louder than technique. His approach is intuitive and nearly mystical: low-intervention farming, native yeasts, gentle extraction, and long, slow aging. Ultreia St. Jacques is his most accessible cuvée, but don’t mistake “accessibility” for simple. This wine overdelivers in a way that borders on sorcery.
In terms of tasting notes think of walking through a forest at dusk: cool air, crushed red berries underfoot, a little smoke drifting from a far-off fire. Bright cherry and wild strawberry meet violet, thyme, and a mineral edge that feels like wet stone after rain. Light-to-medium bodied but deeply satisfying, with a freshness that makes each sip feel like the start of a new conversation.
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