Deep red in color with purple nuances, spicy fruity scent with fresh cherries and some flint. The taste starts fresh and juicy and ends with a fruity aftertaste and light tannin.

 

They exist: wines that taste twice as good as the price suggests. This Saint-Jacques from Bierzo is one of them. That is not entirely surprising, because it is made by one of the most respected and most idiosyncratic winemakers in Spain: Raúl Pérez.

Although Pérez is active in various Spanish wine regions and even in Portugal and South Africa, he is rooted in Bierzo. This is where he was born, in the village of Valtuille de Abajo, and where he also started making wine, on the ancient domain of the Pérez family, Castro Ventosa.

Ultreia is Raúl's first own label and gave him worldwide cult status. The name refers to the fact that the Camino de Santiago passes Valtuille. The Latin word 'ultreia' means 'forward' and was used by the pilgrims to greet each other. The Saint-Jacques is the red 'entry wine' in this series.

 

It is made from mencia, the blue grape from Bierzo, harvested in various plots in Valtuille. Raúl's style of winemaking is very minimalist: his goal is pure expression of terroir, grape and harvest year. After the manual harvest, a spontaneous fermentation follows with whole bunches in wooden barrels. After barrel aging, the wine is bottled unfiltered.

 

Not only we, but also greats such as Jancis Robinson and The Wine Advocate have been blown away by the sublime quality of this super charming Bierzo. Wild red fruit, spiciness, smokiness and minerality in the aroma, a smooth, round taste with beautiful freshness and complexity and enormous storage potential. And all for an incredibly modest price. Don't miss it, because this wine is very popular!

Drink at
Excellent with spicy, spicy cold dishes or dishes from the grill.


shelf life
Drinkable from 2 years after harvest, can easily be kept for 5 to 6 years.