One of the best wines of DO Bierzo at a more than reasonable price? Let us tell you it is not mission impossible. If you still have doubts, try a glass of El Castro de Valtuille Mencía Joven, a red that will leave you speechless. The vineyard where El Castro de Valtuille Mencía Joven is born lies in Valtuille de Abajo, in the north-west of DO Bierzo. Old Mencía vines over 85 years old are spread across more than 300 plots, with a mix of clay and sandy soils rich in organic matter. From the very start and throughout the process, El Castro de Valtuille Mencía Joven is made by hand using traditional methods, keeping the same character with which Raúl Pérez used to make it. For years the famous winemaker ran Castro Ventosa, his family’s winery; even after his departure, things are still done with the same passion and dedication he passed on. Although it is the youngest in the family, El Castro de Valtuille Mencía Joven shows great character and power. After careful work in the vineyard comes the moment to harvest. This is done by hand over about 25 days, always keeping the bunches in the best possible condition. As soon as they reach the winery, the grapes are destemmed and moved by gravity into large fermentation tanks, where indigenous yeasts turn the must into wine. Throughout this process the temperature is controlled and a daily pump-over of about 10 minutes pushes the cap of skins (which floats at the top of the tank) back down. Finally, after racking and pressing, El Castro de Valtuille Mencía Joven goes through malolactic fermentation and is transferred to wooden foudres, where it rests for a few months before bottling.
