Versos de Valtuille Paraje Villegas 2021

The 2021 Valtuille Villegas, a very different wine in style and price to the one I tasted from 2016, was produced with two plots of ancient vines in the paraje planted with a field blend of 85% Mencía, 10% Alicante Bouschet and 5% other varieties, red and white, on sandy soils. It fermented with some 15% full clusters in 7,500-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a 35-day maceration and matured in used 500-liter oak barrels. It has 13.2% alcohol and balancing acidity. This is more open and floral, less concentrated, with more red fruit than black, more ethereal than Mata Los Pardos. It's medium-bodied and fine-boned, with elegant tannins. 1,704 bottles were filled in February 2023.