Structure

Sweetnessdry
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 4 to 15 years from vintage.
vintage4 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

What it pairs with

  • Roast quail
    A sandy-soil red of this scale suits small game birds rather than heavy roasts.
  • Jamón ibérico
    Whole-cluster fermentation leaves a savoury edge that reads well with cured ham.
  • Grilled trout with bacon
    A light-framed Bierzo red can take river fish when there is smoke on the plate.

History

La Cova de la Raposa was the first single-parcel wine Raúl Pérez produced at Castro Ventosa. The site runs to 0.2 hectares of south-facing sandy soil at the top of the paraje; some vines carry only two bunches. It is the first parcel Castro Ventosa picks each year, fermented whole-bunch in open 500 litre barrels.

Facts

Producer
Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa · visiting guide
Grapes
Mencía (85%), Alicante Bouschet (10%), White varieties and others (5%)
Classification
Vino de Paraje (DO Bierzo)
Oak
One year in used 225 litre barrels after fermentation in open 500 litre barrels
ABV
13.5%
Production
1,400 bottles
Price
€38-48 at retail
Drinking window
4-15 from vintage
First vintage
2003

Frequently asked about Valtuille La Cova de la Raposa

Where is Valtuille La Cova de la Raposa made?

From a 0.2 hectare south-facing plot of sandy soil at the upper end of the La Cova de la Raposa paraje, in Valtuille de Abajo.

What classification does La Cova de la Raposa have?

It is a Vino de Paraje within DO Bierzo, the site tier of the appellation's classification pyramid.

How long is La Cova de la Raposa aged?

Around a year in used 225 litre barrels, after whole-bunch fermentation in open 500 litre barrels and roughly 60 days of maceration.

What food pairs with La Cova de la Raposa?

Roast quail, jamón ibérico, or grilled trout with bacon.

Tags

alicante bouschet dry field blend high acid medium body medium tannin medium term menc a mood elegant mood savoury occasion cellar occasion special old vines old world pairs with charcuterie pairs with game pairs with oily fish price premium single vineyard still red white varieties and others

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