Versos de Valtuille Paraje Casares 2022

Their finest single-vineyard red is the 2022 Versos de Valtuille Casares, from the highest-altitude vineyard they have. There are some white grapes in the field blend, and they fermented together with the Mencía with 15% to 20% full clusters in 7,500-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts; the wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels for one year. This seems to be the most complete of their bottlings. It's complex, elegant and balanced, with complexity, depth and a silky texture with very elegant tannins. It has a moderate 13% alcohol with integrated acidity and comes through as balanced. 1,333 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2024.

Casares is one of the highest vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo, a traditional field blend of Mencía (85%) Alicante Bouschet (10%) and Palomino (5%). With just a short passage of aging in 500L French oak, this is an elegant and fruit-forward wine showing great purity and
vineyard expression. Violet floral notes compliment pretty, red berry fruit while there is a wonderfully ferrous core. Seductively subtle, the wine finishes with a lively orange peel lift. This is only the second vintage of this wine which surely has a great future. 2024-28