2022 El Rapolao
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The 2022 El Rapolao comes from two family-owned plots that have a northern exposition. Half of the grapes fermented in used barrels with some clusters and half were destemmed and fermented in stainless steel. The wine matured in used 225-liter French oak barrels for eight months. This is the last time they used 225-liter barrels for this wine. Tasted next to other wines from 2023 (and 2024), I can feel the warmer year, which translated into darker fruit and a more traditional profile. It has moderate ripeness, 13.4% alcohol a pH of 3.5 and 5.7 grams of acidity. It has a medium- to full-bodied palate with abundant, slightly dusty tannins that call for food. Only 640 bottles were produced. It was bottled in December 2023.
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Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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The 2022 La Vizcaína El Rapolao is also dark and ripe, reflecting the very warm and dry conditions of the year. It has the grapes from the same plot they always used—now their property—plus another plot that has some more Alicante Bouschet. It fermented with 100% full clusters. The wine from the original plot matured in used barrels, and the new (which is old) plot matured in an used foudre. The idea is to move all of the wines to foudre; but they find that the wines get reduced, so they are going slowly. It has some oak and a sensation of high ripeness. The wine is clean but feels quite ripe and has black rather than red fruit and an earthy touch with notes of licorice and pepper. It has abundant, slightly dusty tannins. There are some 9,000 bottles.
The 2022 El Rapolao Lomas de Valtuille is 100% Mencía from Valtuille, fermented with whole clusters and aged in 500-liter barrels. Its classic Mencía aromas, though restrained, lead to an agile, compact palate. Fine-grained tannins and bright acidity add tension and grip, with whole-cluster fermentation adding aromatic complexity. The finish is sanguine and precise, delivering finesse, herbal notes and vibrant energy in Raúl Pérez’s signature style. The 2022 vintage truly showcases the winemaker's expertise.