César Márquez Pérez Parajes 2023

César Márquez Pérez was born and raised in Bierzo among the vines. After oenology school in Valencia, he spent nearly a decade working for his uncle, renowned winemaker Raúl Pérez. His family has deep wines in the region, founding their estate, Castro Ventosa, in 1752. Two years before taking over the family winery in 2017, César started his own wine project focusing on crafting wine from his six hectares of organic, old-vine (80-120 years) Godello and Mencía. César aims to showcase the ability of these varietals to transmit terroir, concentrating on single-parcel vinifications with a plan to map Bierzo similarly to other Cru appellations throughout the world.

César's Parajes presents a deep ruby red with red berry and black stone fruit aromas bursting form the glass, marked with notes of savory herbs and violets. The medium-bodied palate is juicy and vibrant, displaying flavors of raspberry, black cherry and plum accented with a bit of peppery spice. Fine-grained tannins and a subdued acidity help guide this red to a long, elegant finish. Enjoy with hard cheeses and cured meats, grilled eggplant on pita with whipped feta or wild mushroom risotto.