Cesar Marquez Parajes 2022

Drink it now or cellar for up to 8 years. No need to decant. Located in the Bierzo wine region, César Márquez founded his winery in 2015, after years of apprenticing with his famous uncle Raúl Pérez, one of the most renowned winemakers in the world. Cesar produces wines in an artisanal way, with full respect for the terroir, without the use of pesticides or chemicals in the vineyard, and with a non-interventionist approach in the cellar. Parajes is a red wine made with a blend of Mencía, Alicante Bouschet, and other white varieties allowed in the local denomination Bierzo. The harvest is manual and the pressing of the grapes takes place according to tradition, with the feet, so that a part of the grapes remains whole during fermentation, which takes place with indigenous yeasts part in barrels and part in steel. The finished wine rests for 12 months in barrels, before blending and bottling. The wine reveals a beautiful bright ruby ​​red color and intense aromas of plum and fresh red fruit, spicy hints, and vegetal notes. On the palate, it is elegant and juicy, fruity and well-balanced. It has a medium body, ripe and velvety tannins, and a delicately saline and persistent finish. It goes wonderfully with game birds such as pheasant or partridge.

Price: £13.30 from 8wines UK