Raul Perez Ultreia de Paluezas 2021.

Ultreia de Paluezas is not produced every year but is a single plot in the south-western part of the Bierzo on the border with Valdeorras where the soils are chalk and limestone dominated. An area in decline, once dominated by co-operatives, Raúl has put in a huge amount of work to recover this formerly abandoned 100 year old vineyard and the results shine through. The 2021 exudes notes of deep plum and cherry stones with white, mineralrich soils and stones, bitter herbs, black raspberries and a highly perfumed finish. A total of 960bts were produced.

The Ultreia bottling that called my attention from the moment the wines were poured is the 2021 Ultreia Paluezas. I've only tasted a couple of vintages of this before, but Raúl Pérez remembers that it has called my attention every time. The distinct feature here is that the plot has limestone soils, which are very rare in Bierzo, and the majority of the place is on slate soils. So, this has the special finesse and elegance of the limestone, and it's perfumed and elegant and has a velvety palate with very fine, chalky tannins. This is now more Burgundian than Rhône, from a cool year with very perfumed reds. This is from only 0.4 hectares or so, and it even has a small part with Palomino; he produces one 225-liter barrel and a 500-liter one - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate, Aug 10, 2023.