The Castro Ventosa wine from this site is made from an ancient parcel, partly pre-phylloxera vines. Very ripe black cherry pours from the glass, with lots of dark rock, flint and charcoal underneath, then sweeter notes of clove pepper and licorice emerge. There is also some saffron and blond tobacco. The intense and very complex spiciness of the Mencia comes into its own breathtakingly well with the high maturity of La Vitoriana. In the mouth, it runs on a symphony of vibrant red and tart, powerful dark cherries. Wow, this has a lot of pressure in the mouth but remains very fine. Vitoriana comes with rich ripeness, uncompromising minerality and high fruit intensity and simply blows everything away. The furious finish is infused with a dark minerality reminiscent of pencil shavings and graphite and sweet spice notes. The tannins only cling to the palate after an extended length, when you hardly expect them. Thanks to the brilliant acidity and the salty rock character that rolls up again and again, La Vitoriana is simply superb to drink despite its voluptuous ripeness. Enormous concentration and yet it remains so fine and polished on the finish. What a dimension in this wine! In four to five years, this wine will really take off. An amazing wine. Unfortunately, only 400 bottles are produced each year.
Castro Ventosa Valtuille La Vitoriana 2021 3x75cl 100/100 HL
Top Score: 100 points!
“An amazing wine. Unfortunately, only 400 bottles are produced each year.”
Price IN BOND
£325.00 3 x 75cl Bottles
4 in stock
Colour | Red |
---|---|
Vintage | 2021 |
Country | Spain |
Region | Bierzo |
100 points Heiner Lobenberg


97 points James Suckling
Wow, the minerality really makes it an engaging mencia. Complex, deep and full of uncoiled power. Blueberries, spices, herbs, rose petals, white pepper and an attractive balsamic undertone. More closed on the nose, yet a little fleshier than the taut and equally exciting Rapolao. The tannins are firm but creamy and dissolved. Drink or hold.
95 points Vinous
Vivid ruby. A highly complex bouquet evokes perfumed red and blue fruits, potpourri, incense and exotic spices, enlivened by a powerful mineral topnote. Impressively concentrated yet lively, offering palate-staining cherry, boysenberry, cola, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that show excellent detail and minerally back-end cut. Finishes with polished, well-integrated tannins and superb, floral- and spice-driven persistence.
