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Sacrata
Sacrata
Sacrata Mencía is another jewel-of-a-wine made by Bodegas y Viñedos Raul Pérez that clearly communicates the personality of the unique high elevation Ribeira Sacra DO. Here, the Mencía grape possesses more color and tannic structure, however the mineral and blue slate characters apparent in Ribeira Sacra’s subzone of Amandi are also found in Bibei. Generally, Mencía in Bierzo has a fatter, deeper and darker character whereas in Ribeira Sacra, Mencía shows more “pretty,” mineral and red berry characters. The biggest problem with Raul Pérez’s wines is that they’re produced in such miniscule quantities. Raul Pérez is one of Spain’s finest winemakers and some wine trade veterans believe Raul is among a handful of the best winemakers in the world. Raul believes great wines are made in the vineyard and he has an uncanny knack for knowing what his vineyards need to achieve their greatest potential. As his virtuoso winemaking talent has become known, many winemakers now seek to collaborate with Raul.
What makes this wine unique?
Made in the higher, cooler district of Bibei within the Ribeira Sacra region. This wine is made using grapes from vines over eighty years old. This 100% Mencía wine comes from a vineyard that Raul Pérez purchased in 2008 and is made with organically grown grapes. The vines are head pruned and dry farmed (no irrigation), yielding less than 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of grapes per vine.
Rating history:
2007 95RPGrape:
100% Mencia
Pairing Suggestions:
Sacrata’s blend of mineral, spice and savory notes are a great match for pork, duck, veal and grilled sweet sausage. Sacrata’s aroma and flavor profiles also pair well with more flavorful and rich wild varieties of mushrooms.
Vinification and ageing:
After harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed but not crushed. The must is fermented and macerated for 35 days, with a minimal amount of punching down (pigeage). The wine is aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.
Production:
333 cases made – 75 for the U.S.
Location, Soil, Climate:
In Zone #1, Ribeira Sacra is one of the most inland wine regions of Galicia. Ribeira Sacra, which could be translated as "Sacred Shore" has 5 subzones from north to south: 1. Chantada, 2. Amandi, in the municipality of Monforte de Lemos, 3. Ribeiras do Miño, the largest subzone, 4. Ribeiras do Sil-Ourense, and 5. Quiroga-Bibei. Sacrata is made within the Bibei subzone, one of the coolest and highest in elevation. The soil is 100% pizarra, or slate stone. Ribeira Sacra’s climate is more Continental/Mediterranean than Atlantic. Here, average yearly rainfall is 32 inches versus 66 inches in Pontevedra, near the Atlantic Ocean. Average temperatures from April-October are 64.50°F.
Tasting notes:
The purple-colored Sacrata emits a splendid aromatic array of mineral, spice box, violets, incense, black cherry, and blueberry. Elegant, velvety-texture, and complex, it has the structure and balance to drink well for a decade.
Alcohol Content:
13.0%
UPC Code:
NO UPC CODE
