The 2017 La Vizcaína La Vitoriana has depth and power, inherent to the vineyard, a cool site that behaves well in a warm year like 2017, but in 2017 I still prefer El Rapolao. The fruit is a little darker and riper without excess (it's all relative when you compare, and sometimes comparisons are tedious...), as the cooler exposition takes the warmer weather better. It's textured and serious. 6,300 bottles were filled, as the north-facing exposures like this escaped the frost of the 2017 spring. It as bottled in May 2019.

La Vitoriana vineyard is north-facing and located at 600m in the Bierzo village of Valtuille. Its precious 0.9 hectares of vines date back to 1881 and are still planted on original Pie Franco rootstocks thanks to the higher proportion of sand in the upper section of the vineyard. Leafy, enigmatic and complex, courtesy both the aspect and the altitude, this is a slow burning classic. I discerned a little Brettanomyces initially, but not such as to dimmish its cerebral appeal; thereafter wild strawberries, chocolate and hints of sous bois, the tannins tightly knit and the finish clean. Intriguing…