César Marquez - Bierzo DO - Parajes - Rouge - 2021

Wine:

Made from century-old vines planted at altitude, the 2021 red Bierzo Parajes symbolizes the heart of this region; it's a blend of 85% mencia from nine Bierzo villages, each lot vinified separately. The result is a very affordable red, buoyed by a fresh year, with intense, elegant floral aromas. The juicy texture, edged with very fine tannins, is both round and sappy, deep and complex. A superb discovery! Rated 94/100 by Parker.

Vinification:

Hand-picked and blended grapes from 48 plots. Maceration of grapes for 17 to 60 days. Aged for 12 months in 225-, 400-, 500- and 600-liter barrels.

Color:

Bright ruby red.

Nose:

On aeration, fresh aromas of red and black fruits open up on a full-bodied background.

Palate:

On the palate, this wine delivers complexity, depth and silky tannins.

Temperature:

Serve between 14 and 16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Spiced duck breast, shredded beef casserole, roast cockerel and pan-fried mushrooms.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2030

César Marquez is no ordinary man. Related to Raul Perez, he has the same talent and innate sense of blending terroirs and winemaking to craft outstanding wines in the Bierzo region. 

Century-old vines, well-defined plots of land, a quest for optimal freshness and altitude are the hallmarks of his work, matched by a mastery of maturation in stainless steel vats, barrels and demi-muids (500 to 600 liters). 

Pure talent at the service of a renewed reading of these Spanish territories, acclaimed by the critics, and first and foremost by a certain Parker Guide who has nothing but praise for the phenomenon.