This wine shows terrific balance and harmony. Quite delicate and smooth texture on the long finish.\n \n Producer Information\n Jose Antonio GarcÃa and his wife Julia Peña GarcÃa (JAG) are at the forefront of the next generation of vignerons in Bierzo leading the charge towards wines of place and definition. Their familial roots in Bierzo are fundamental to them, as they do all of the work in the vineyards themselves, which is signified by the term viticultor on their bottles. Jose’s first commercial vintage of his iconic UnculÃn MencÃa de Valtuille was in 2011, after two vintages of perfecting his expression. Their cuvée UnculÃn is a fresh, vin de soif-style Bierzo that offers an antidote to overblown, internationally-styled wines previously made in the region. UnculÃn is a Vino de Villa wine from over 80 different organically-grown small plots that are family-owned in the village of Valtuille de Abajo from 500m to 650m elevation, planted with 60 to 100-year-old traditional bush vines from native varieties. JAG’s minerality-driven UnculÃn echoes the traditions of co-fermentation in the Bierzo region while pushing the envelope of possibilities. UnculÃn brings similar energy to Bierzo as the Cru Beaujolais movement in France. In the spirit of elevating their family holdings and with an inexhaustible work ethic, Jose and Julia set out recuperating historic vineyards by hand, recovering them one by one from the stranglehold of wild ivy. It’s a monumental work considering the 25ha of indigenous, old vines they own in Valtuille de Abajo and Corullón, and the fact that they are doing all of the work themselves. All of the work in the vineyard and winery is performed manually with the use of gravity, minimal intervention, and no chemical inputs. Quality, excellence, and soul are always the philosophy. JAG is defined by small production, very low yields, artisanal methods, and minimal intervention, yielding complex, elegant, delicious wines among the finest in Bierzo.
