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Bodegas Castro VentosaD.O. Bierzo

€118.50
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Vintage
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TECH SHEET

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Vintage
2019
Country
SpainSpain
Region
D.O. Bierzo
Type
Red
Producer
Bodegas Castro Ventosa
Winemaker
Raúl Pérez
Grapes
Mencía85%Alicante bouschet10%Otras5%
Alcohol
13.5% vol.
Bottle
750 ml

Wine profile

Red · ruby

Body
Tannin
Acidity
Alcohol13.5% vol
Sweetness

Tap or hover a scale

Wine profile · Red

Body

Level 3 of 5 — Medium and rounded – like whole milk

Below typical (3.8) · Typical: average of 711 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Body is the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth. It comes mainly from alcohol, extract (everything dissolved apart from water), glycerol and, in sweet wines, sugar.

Where you feel it

Across the whole tongue: how much the wine fills your mouth. Think skimmed milk, whole milk and cream.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

There is no single number for body. Labs measure dry extract (many wines are between 18 and 30 g/L) and alcohol, which WSET says has the biggest effect on body. Our scale rates the weight in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Light: fluid and delicate
  2. 2Medium−: light-ish
  3. 3Medium: rounded This wine
  4. 4Medium+: broad
  5. 5Full: dense and rich

In practice, for this wine

The most versatile middle ground: from salt cod to white meat and pasta.

Wine profile · Red

Tannin

Level 2 of 5 — Soft – a velvety texture

Below typical (3.2) · Typical: average of 708 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Tannins come from grape skins, seeds and oak. They give red wines structure and ageing potential, and soften with time.

Where you feel it

On your gums, inside your cheeks and on your teeth: that rough, drying feel, like after strong black tea.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

Labs measure total polyphenols (the TPI index), but that figure is rarely published. Our scale rates the amount and texture of the tannins in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: silky
  2. 2Medium−: soft This wine
  3. 3Medium: present
  4. 4Medium+: firm
  5. 5High: robust

In practice, for this wine

Goes with poultry, pork and pasta without feeling heavy.

Wine profile · Red

Acidity

Level 4 of 5 — Lively and mouth-watering – like grapefruit

In line with typical (3.6) · Typical: average of 702 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Acidity is the wine's freshness: it gives energy, makes your mouth water and helps the wine age. Too little and it tastes flat; too much and it feels sharp.

Where you feel it

On the sides of your tongue, and in how much your mouth waters after you swallow. The more you salivate, the higher the acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of the grapes (Wine Folly / WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

Labs measure total acidity (grams of tartaric acid per litre; most wines sit between 4.5 and 8 g/L) and pH (usually 3.0 to 3.8; the lower, the more acidic). Our scale turns that into how it feels in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: soft, little freshness
  2. 2Medium−: gentle
  3. 3Medium: fresh and balanced
  4. 4Medium+: lively, mouth-watering This wine
  5. 5High: crisp, racy

In practice, for this wine

Cuts through fat and salt: oily fish, fried food, goat's cheese, lemony dishes. Serve well chilled.

Wine profile · Red

Alcohol 13.5% vol

Level 4 of 5 — Generous – warms the throat

In line with typical (4.2) · Typical: average of 716 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Alcohol is made when yeast ferments the grape's sugar. It brings warmth, adds to the body and carries the aromas.

Where you feel it

As warmth in your throat and chest when you swallow, and a slight burn on the nose when it is high.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the alcohol stated on the label — On the label: 13.5% vol.

It is the one axis that is always measured: it comes from the % vol on the label. Still and sparkling wines: under 11% = 1, up to 12.4% = 2, up to 13.4% = 3, up to 14.4% = 4, 14.5% or more = 5. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira…) have their own scale: under 16.5% = 2, up to 18.4% = 3, up to 19.9% = 4, 20% or more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: under 11% vol
  2. 2Medium−: 11–12.4% vol
  3. 3Medium: 12.5–13.4% vol
  4. 4Medium+: 13.5–14.4% vol This wine
  5. 5High: 14.5% vol or more

In practice, for this wine

Avoid very spicy food, which boosts the heat. Serve slightly below room temperature.

Wine profile · Red

Sweetness

Level 1 of 5 — Dry – no sugar you can taste, just fruit

In line with typical (1.0) · Typical: average of 720 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Sweetness comes from the grape's natural sugar that did not turn into alcohol (residual sugar). A dry wine has almost none; a Port or a late-harvest wine has a lot.

Where you feel it

On the tip of your tongue, right from the first sip, and as a richer, oilier feel in the mouth. Acidity can mask it.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the sweetness category recorded on the product sheet (dry, off-dry…).

It is measured in grams of residual sugar per litre. General EU bands: dry up to about 4 g/L, off-dry up to 12, medium-sweet up to 45, sweet above that. On our scale: under 4 g/L = 1, up to 12 = 2, up to 45 = 3, up to 100 = 4, more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Dry: no noticeable sugar This wine
  2. 2Off-dry: a touch of sweetness
  3. 3Medium-sweet: clearly sweet
  4. 4Sweet: rich and fruity
  5. 5Very sweet: luscious

In practice, for this wine

Goes with the whole meal, from savoury to mildly spicy. Avoid sweet desserts: they make it taste bitter.

Critics & awards

Serve & enjoy

Temperature 16–18 °CIf the room is above 20 °C, 15 min in the fridge
GlassBordeaux glass
Open ahead 15 min · No decanting

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Pairings, alternatives and advice in seconds

Description

Valtuille La Vitoriana 2019 is a prestigious red made by Castro Ventosa under acclaimed winemaker Raúl Pérez, in Bierzo, Spain.

The Wine AdvocateRP 97Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

The second vintage of La Vitoriana here, the 2019 Valtuille La Vitoriana, fermented in a 1,000-litre oak vat and matured in a 500-litre oak barrel — unlike the 2018, which aged in a smaller barrel. Perhaps the ratio of oak to wine worked well for this label, which is more elegant and harmonious, fresher and less concentrated. Ripeness is a little lower here than in the 2018; the old, low-yielding vines tend to ripen quickly, giving a short window to pick. The wine finished with 13.4% alcohol and is medium-bodied with fine, chalky tannins. Truly impressive.

620 bottles were produced.

Falstaff gave 98 points to Castro Ventosa Valtuille La Vitoriana 2019, highlighting it as a wine of remarkable elegance and great depth.

In the glass it's a luminous ruby with delicate violet glints. The nose impresses with its finesse and sophistication, interweaving aromas of dark berries and black cherry with mineral nuances and subtle notes of fine spice.

PalateOn the palate it's structured and complex, yet balanced by vibrant freshness. The tannins are silky and perfectly integrated, making for a harmonious, enveloping tasting.

FinishThe finish is long and persistent, marked by strong mineral expression, a clear reflection of Valtuille's characteristic soils.

With this 98-point score, it stands out as one of the highlights of the vintage in Bierzo, even surpassing Robert Parker's score of 97 points.

What to serve with this wine

Dishes calculated from this wine’s profile, grapes and region.