Cesar Marquez, Parajes Bierzo 2020

93 points Wine Advocate
"There's a little more ripeness and concentration in the 2020 Parajes, which matured in well-seasoned (at least fourth use) barriques and a 5,000-liter oak foudre. It's a little rounder and creamier, a more powerful wine (it was bottled 15 days before I tasted it) with a nice Bierzo character."

Vinous Reverie Notes
The word 'Parajes' translates to ‘places’ in Spanish. The fruit for this blend of Mencia and Alicante Bouschet, is sourced from a number of villages in Bierzo. Every year, this wine paints a unique snapshot of the region and tracks its terroir from vintage to vintage. Packed with notes of red berry, liquorice and violets, this is a beautiful expression of this unique region. Mencia is a red wine grape native to northwest Spain. Synonymous with the red wines of Bierzo, it has enjoyed something of a revival in recent decades following years of producing light and astringent wines. Improved, low-yielding viticulture and a greater focus on available hillside sites has seen the variety court international attention. Mencia wines tend to exhibit earthy, vegetal characters with berry nuances and stony minerality. Rich and Intense Red Wine - Deep, fruit-driven and jammy. Filled with ripe, rich fruit and a plethora of spices, this style is typified by Australian Shiraz, Sonoma Zinfandel and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Pairs well with lamb.