JAG Unculín Valtuille Vino de Villa

The cuvée Unculín is a fresh, energetic red Bierzo that offers a refreshing antidote to the over-blown, internationally-styled wines previously made in the region. Rather, Unculín is focussed on delivering an experience where the soul and energy of Valtuille and Bierzo are on full display. This is accomplished through utilizing the region’s tradition of co-fermentation from some of the village’s best vineyards.

Bierzo has adopted a new quality-based classification system for its wines, closely following the Burgundian structure of regional, village, and single-vineyard wines. In the Vino de Villa classification system, 100% of the grapes must come from vineyards within the village of Valtuille, and yields are more than 20% below the limit for D.O. Bierzo. Other quality-conscious regulations have been implemented that now make the Bierzo appellation a leading producer of fine wine in not only Spain but in the whole of Europe.

Color

Red

Producers

Jose Ant. Garcia

Grape

#Mencia #Garnacha #Palomino #merenzao

Region

Unculín is a Vino de Villa wine from over 80 different organically-grown, family-owned small plots in the village of Valtuille de Abajo. At 500m to 650m elevation, they are planted with 60 to 100-year-old traditional bush vines from native varieties, including mencía, alicante bouchet, merenzao, palomino, and dona blanca from various parts of Valtuille that are known for producing fresh, elegant wines, including: Cabanelas (clay soils), Mata los Pardos (sand and clay), and El Val (pebble soils), among others.

Wine production

Whole bunches are hand-picked, leaving stems on 30% of the bunches. The remaining 70% of the grapes are de-stemmed by hand and left intact, without crushing. A 48-hour maceration precedes a spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeast.