ULTREIA LA DEL VIVO, RAÚL PÉREZ
ORIGIN: Spain
APPELLATION: Bierzo
VARIETY/BLEND: Godello and Doña Blanca
ALTITUDE: 500-550m a.s.l.
SOIL: Clay
FERMENTATION: The grapes are divided into two parts. Approximately 80% of the grapes are pressed and decanted, then fermented in 500-liter and 700-liter French barrels. That wine remains untouched in the barrels for one year. The remaining 20% of the grapes ferment with skins in clay amphorae where the wine then remains untouched for one year. The two parts are then blended and the wine is bottled without fining or filtration.
WINE DESCRIPTION
-
ABOUT PRODUCER
Raúl Pérez Pereira is universally considered to be one of the world’s most visionary winemakers. Raul decided to study viticulture and oenology, then started working in the family business, and his first vintage was 1994. In 2003, he left his family business and has embarked on his own projects in Bierzo (his native region), Monterrei and Rías Baixas. He claims to have found a balance between early harvesting and long macerations. This allows him to preserve acidity, extract tannins gently and polymerize tannins through the use of natural oxygenation in oak. Pérez no longer uses cooling devices in his winery and his wines are aged either in foudres or used barrels. Over recent years, Raul received multiple praises from some of the most important wine critics in the world.