Valtuille Villegas, Bodegas Castro Ventosa 2020

Sandy soils and some of the highest altitude in Valtuille, with some 100+ year old vines. This always reflects a Burgundian edge to Bierzo. Aged in used barrels for a year after wholebunch fermentation. The Villegas 2020 is very much on the Pinot Noir side of Mencia, full of fragrant red fruit, peppery spice and dried herbs. The palate shows the same juicy fragrance with a delicate, intense fruit core lined with a streak of fresh acidity. Direct, linear and intense, this is very long, growing on the finish. A very impressive, lithe style.

There's a bigger difference between the 2020 Valtuille Villegas and the 2021 than between any of the other cru bottlings of the two vintages. This feels a little more forward and open, a little riper despite the moderate 12.9% alcohol and a little toasty. It fermented with 100% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in used 500-liter barrels for one year. 1,150 bottles were filled in December 2021. 2023-2028