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Raul Perez
Raul Perez (photo by Vinimenta)
Raul Perez (photo by Vinimenta)
Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Rias Baixas, Bierzo, Leon, Ribeira Sacra
People: Raul Perez, Owner & Winemaker
Supplier: http://www.oleimports.com


Raul Perez is a study in contrasts. Curious. Courteous. Pensive. Gregarious. He is intensely serious about his work, but doesn't take himself too seriously. He is deeply committed to getting it right, but entirely unafraid of failure. He believes that wine is made in the vineyard, but is undeterred from trying a multitude of strategies to find that vineyard's voice.

As a winemaker, Raul's mission is to capture all potential from each site he works with. There are many talents who grew up with vines, who innovate, who study intently the world's wines and their making. Raul has this and more; an uncanny knack for knowing what a vineyard needs and how to treat that vineyard's grapes once in the winery to achieve their greatest expression.

As a person, he is a magnet. A simultaneously formal and informal web of friends and business associates links him to people in his village, throughout Spain and the world. Many of these friendships and associations have led to collaborations. Everyone seems to want to know what Raul thinks, and if it means better wine, he is not afraid to tell them. Now, finding himself suddenly in an international spotlight, his already large "tribe" grows daily.

Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits Winter 2011
Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits 10/15/2010

Raul Perez was born in 1972 in Valtuille de Abajo in the Northwest of Spain, into the family that owns Bodegas Castro Ventosa, the largest owner of Mencía plantings in Bierzo (75 hectares). Raul grew up here, developing his ideals and passions, and continued to work at the family winery through the 2003 harvest. He also holds a position as winemaker at Tilenus, a "full time" job that covers all his material basic needs, allowing him, without financial fear of mistakes, to continue to push the envelope to sometimes uncomfortable limits on his own wines.

Though his commitment to "no compromise" makes him simultaneously controversial and popular, this attitude is not born out of lack of respect or reverence, but rather the opposite. Raul Perez is intensely driven to be the conduit of amazing wines. It is not a refusal to compromise, but a lack of acceptance that settling for something less than zenith is even an option.

Bodegas y Viñedos Raul Perez produces extra limited, handcrafted, artisanal wines from varieties such as Albariño, Mencía, Bastardo, Prieto Picudo and Godello from the Northwestern DOs of Spain and are imported into the USA by Ole Imports.
Items
Raul Perez 2011 'Muti' Albariño, Rias Baixas DO Net Price — —
Raul Perez 2011 Sketch Net Price — —
Raul Perez 2010 'La Tentación' Pinot Noir, Bierzo DO Net Price — —
Raul Perez 2010 'Muti' Caino, Rias Baixas DO Net Price — —
Raul Perez 2010 'Ultreia De Valtuille' (Mencia), Bierzo DO Net Price Reviews —
Raul Perez 2011 'Ultreia De Valtuille' (Mencia), Bierzo DO Net Price — —
Raul Perez 2011 'Vico' (Mencia), Bierzo DO Net Price — —
Raul Perez 2010 Prieto Picudo, Tierra de Leon DO Net Price — —
Reviews
Raul Perez 2010 'Ultreia De Valtuille' (Mencia), Bierzo DO
Rating: 96

The 2010 Ultreia Valtuille is produced from old-vine Mencia vineyards from the Villegas zone within the village of Valtuille. It has a very Burgundian feel to it, even if the texture is more redolent of a Crozes-Hermitage. This is a medium-bodied, ultra-elegant, mega-mineral wine, built to last, but approachable from right now. The sense of balance and harmony is amazing. A truly great wine. Some 3,500 bottles were produced. I had a preview of the just-bottled 2011 of this wine and it was closed for business, but it shows great potential and I’m looking forward to tasting it next year. Drink 2014-2025.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)