2018 El Rapolao
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Tasting notes
This is a 100% Mencía parcel from Valtuille de Abajo that is also vinified by seven other producers such as Raúl Pérez, César Márques and Castro Ventosa, among others. Clay and quartz soils at 500 m. 100% whole clusters, foot-crushed and fermented in clay amphorae. Aged for one year in used oak barrels. Production: 900 bottles. An opulent vintage compared with the two previous. This has great tension held by firm acidity. The chalky tannins are very well managed over a rather black fruit expression. Deep, ethereal and beautiful in its essence. An exuberant year where the aromas of truffle manifest more than the fruit. (FC)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Like the other wines, the 2018 El Rapolao has lower alcohol and better acidity than the 2017. The year was quite wet, reaching almost 1,000 liters, and it was not without challenges, in this case fungal diseases. It was their latest harvest since they arrived in Bierzo in 2015, and the grapes ripened slowly but thoroughly. It fermented together with full clusters and natural yeasts in tinaja. The wine had a shorter élevage—10 months in well-seasoned, neutral 228-liter oak barrels. It shows the subtleness, freshness and elegance of the year. Tasted next to the 2017, this has more depth and is intense but balanced, with fine and rounder tannins. It has the character of the place, with the style of Michelini and Mufatto. It was also interesting to taste all the different bottlings of El Rapolao 2018, which I did blind... It was bottled at the same time as the 2017, in October 2019. 900 bottles produced.