César Márquez, Parajes de Bierzo 2021

Young winemaker César Márquez has deep family roots in the Bierzo region. His introduction to winemaking was via his uncle, the world-renowned Raul Pérez. After spending some time in Burgundy and Mendoza, César returned to his native Bierzo in north-western Spain, where he has been focussing on producing exceptional wines from indigenous grape varieties since 2015. Parajes de Bierzo 2021 is a blend of 85% Mencía and 15% Alicante Bouschet. Aromatic, fresh and elegant, the Mencía gives the wine notes of red fruit, liquorice and flowers; with the the Alicante Bouschet providing plenty of black fruit oomph. The result is a concentrated, yet softly-spiced, medium-bodied red which is a perfect pair for lighter meats or poultry.