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Castro Ventosa

Description Castro Ventosa

Castro Ventosa is one of El Bierzo's oldest estates. It is the family estate of the famous oenologist Raul Pérez. Its wines are superb from the entry level to the top cuvée Valtuille. The very best of the Mencia grape.

Regions of Castro Ventosa
Appellations of Castro Ventosa
Winemaker Raúl Pérez
Owner fam. Pérez
Links
Description Castro Ventosa

History Castro Ventosa

The earliest mention of the estate in the archives, for the sale of vines, dates back to 1752! But like in many regions of Spain, most of the production has long been sent to the local cooperative. Only in the 90’s, the estate began to make and bottle its wines itself. The younger generation played a major role in this evolution. The whole Pérez family works at the estate, but the man who made it famous is oenologist Raúl Pérez. He is the one who re-established the reputation of the local grape Mencía; not only for Castro Ventosa, but for the whole DO Bierzo. A few years ago, he came back to work on the estate, but he still makes his own wines in other DO’s. Raúl has become one of Spain most reputed winemakers and his wines are cult. With the help of the rest of the family, he put Castro Ventosa back on the right track.

Castro Ventosa
C el barredo 27a
Valtuille de Abajo
Leon

Varieties Castro Ventosa

The region’s epitomic grape is Mencía. With Descendientes de J.Palacios, Castro Ventosa was pivotal in the rehabilitation of this variety. In the 90’s, Bierzo was full of Tempranillo, Cabernet etc. But these two estates were dedicated to Mencía … and to make great wines out of it. Mencía gives very good results indeed, provided the yield is kept rather low and it is harvested at optimal maturity. If too early, the wine can be green. Hence the connection made with Cabernet Franc; but scientists have proved that the two grapes are not related genetically. If it is picked too late, on the other hand, the acidity gets too low. As Mencía has not got much natural acidity, to reach the right balance the work in the vines needs fine-tuning. Castro Ventosa has around 60 hectares of Mencía – only old vines between 30 and 60 years old. The other varieties on the estate are only anecdotic. All the vines are farmed organically.

Terroir Castro Ventosa

Castro Ventosa is located in Valtuille de Abajo, a small village in the lower part of DO El Bierzo; its soils are mainly clay and sands. El Bierzo has a milder microclimate than the neighbouring areas of Leon and Galicia – especially the lower part. The name of the estate (Castro) dates from the Roman times. It relates to a small hill at the foot of the village, overlooking the plain around. The winery itself has been dug into this hill, and most of the vines are also planted on its flanks. The names of the wines refer to this. Their top wine, the “Valtuille”, comes from 10 different blocks of sandy and very poor soils, some of which have a layer of clay underneath. The vines which make the “Castro de Valtuille”, on the other hand, grow on clay and sands, partially stony. The Castro de Valtuille Joven, comes from clay and silt soils. In this kind of old vineyards, the density of plantations is around 4,000 to 5,000 plants per hectare.

Vinification Castro Ventosa

Harvesting is done by hand; the grapes are put in small baskets. Winemaking is very traditional, Castro Ventosa applies old proven techniques. For the Valtuille: open 500 litre barrels; all grapes keep their stalks. Daily stomping during 35 to 40 days. Castro de Valtuille: 3,500 litre vats; 30% of the grapes keep their stalks. Daily stomping during 35 to 40 days. Castro de Valtuille Joven: classic fermentation in stainless steel tanks.

75 cl.
Biological
El Castro de Valtuille Godello
El Castro de Valtuille Godello 2023
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
white
19,98 €
16,51 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Godello (100%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2023

75 cl.
92 R. Parker
Biological
El Castro de Valtuille Joven
El Castro de Valtuille Joven 2023
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
10,73 €
8,87 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia (100%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2023

Description

It is often said that Mencia has the fruitiness of a Pinot Noir and the freshness of a Shiraz. This young (joven) wine was made with the same care as the Raúl Pérez's other cuvées but comes from younger vines.

75 cl.
97+ R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille Cepas Centenarias
Valtuille Cepas Centenarias 2021
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
48,22 €
39,85 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia (95%), Bastardo (Merenzao) (5%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2021

Description

It is often said that a good Mencia combines the fruit of a nice Pinot and the freshness of a good Syrah. Valtuille - the name of the village where the vineyard stands - comes from a selection of 100 year-old vines, at 580 m above sea level. Production; 3,500 bottles.

75 cl.
95 R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille Cepas Centenarias
Valtuille Cepas Centenarias 2022
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
51,97 €
42,95 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia (95%), Bastardo (Merenzao) (5%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2022

Description

It is often said that a good Mencia combines the fruit of a nice Pinot and the freshness of a good Syrah. Valtuille - the name of the village where the vineyard stands - comes from a selection of 100 year-old vines, at 580 m above sea level. Production; 3,500 bottles.

75 cl.
94+ R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille Cova de la Raposa
Valtuille Cova de la Raposa 2022
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
51,97 €
42,95 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia (98%), Alicante Bouchet (2%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2022

Description

Castro Ventosa is one of the oldest domains in Bierzo. This is the family domain of Spain's most famous oenologist Raul Pérez. Cova de la Raposa ('cave of the fox') is a vineyard located in the village of Abajo de Valtuille. Southern exposure on sandy soil. Not an easy plot and therefore this wine is not made every year. When it does succeed, the wine is truly great.

75 cl.
95 R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille Cova de la Raposa
Valtuille Cova de la Raposa 2021
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
48,22 €
39,85 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia (98%), Alicante Bouchet (2%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2021

75 cl.
95 R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille Godello
Valtuille Godello "El Val" 2022
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
white
51,97 €
42,95 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Godello (100%)

Content

75 cl.

Year

2022

Description

Castro Ventosa's top white wine. "El Val" is the name of the vineyard, located just opposite the renowned "Villegas" vineyard. West orientation so ripeness is up to almost 1 month later than the Villegas vineyard. El Val therefore gives voluminous wines with plenty of fraîche and character. Is without doubt the most Burgundian of our white Godello wines.

75 cl.
97 R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille La Vitoriana
Valtuille La Vitoriana 2019
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
122,19 €
100,98 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia

Content

75 cl.

Year

2019

75 cl.
97 R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille La Vitoriana
Valtuille La Vitoriana 2020
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
122,84 €
101,52 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia

Content

75 cl.

Year

2020

Description

Castro Ventosa is one of El Bierzo's oldest estate. It is the family estate of Raul Pérez, Spain's most famous oenologist. And La Vitoriana is one of their best crus.

75 cl.
98+ R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille La Vitoriana
Valtuille La Vitoriana 2021
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
122,84 €
101,52 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia

Content

75 cl.

Year

2021

Description

Castro Ventosa is one of El Bierzo's oldest estate. It is the family estate of Raul Pérez, Spain's most famous oenologist. And La Vitoriana is one of their best crus.

75 cl.
97 R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille La Vitoriana
Valtuille La Vitoriana 2022
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
123,06 €
101,70 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia

Content

75 cl.

Year

2022

Description

Castro Ventosa is one of El Bierzo's oldest estate. It is the family estate of Raul Pérez, Spain's most famous oenologist. And La Vitoriana is one of their best crus.

75 cl.
96+ R. Parker
Biological
Valtuille Rapolao
Valtuille Rapolao 2022
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
67,09 €
55,45 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Mencia

Content

75 cl.

Year

2022

Description

Rapoalo is a 3.5 hectare cru divided between some 6 winemakers, of which being Raul Pérez who produces wine from this cru with Ultreia and La Vizcaina. The vines are more than 100 years-old, the soils are mainly clay. The parcel sees the Sun quite late in the morning.

75 cl.
Biological
Valtuille Vino de Villa
Valtuille Vino de Villa 2021
Castilla y León
Castro Ventosa
D.O. Bierzo
75 cl.
red
19,21 €
15,88 € excl. VAT
Assembly

Alicante Bouchet, Bastardo (Merenzao), Mencia

Content

75 cl.

Year

2021

Description

El Bierzo was one of the first Spanish denominaciones to get a completely new set of specifications, introducing (from 2017 onwards) the vino de villa for wines made with grapes originating from one village. A list of villages has been issued. Some producers already use these names, including our suppliers. A good example of "vino de villa" is Valtuille.

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