This wine accompanied haggis at a recent private dinner. Maybe not as strange as it sounds, El Bierzo has its botillo, a pig intestine filled with sausages and spices, not very unlike the more famous Scottish national dish.
La Vizcaína is the project of Raúl Pérez and his nephew César Márquez.
La Poulosa is based on mencía, but it alto contains small percentages of grapes like bastardo and garnacha tintorera. They come from old vines between 60 and 80 years old that are scattered across small plots totalling 2 hectares located Valtuille de Abajo. The climate is both Atlantic and continentality, and the soils are shallow and clay-based.
The harvest is carried out manually. Fermentation takes place in large wooden barrels up to 5,000 liters. The juice of the wine macerates on its skins for 2-3 months. The wine is then aged in seven year old French oak barrels for 12 months, and bottled without being clarified or filtered.
La Poulosa 2018 (R. Pérez)
Deep ruby red. Dark fruit, earthy minerality, and subtle liquorice notes. Broad and supple on the palate, with ripe blackberries, prunes, a touch of spice, a fresh acidity, and textured tannins lending structure without harsh edges. A wine of balance and character, showing the strength of the vineyard.
Price: Medium