This an exceptional effort from rising star Veronica Ortega; we love the wines she is making from the overlooked area of Bierzo, and the Quite is an excellent example of her skills and one of the best wines she has made yet. We have a limited amount in stock which are the only bottles in the USA.
Veronica Ortega is making some of the best wines in Bierzo and is one of the break-out stars of the region and the top new Female winemakers in the past five years. These incredible wines go above and beyond in this Northern Spanish terroir with a lovely level of detail. Veronica's passion for great wine led her to be one of the first to branch out into Cobrana close to the Bierzo Appellation limits. Soils here are slate and clay, but the most exciting part is its elevation of 700 meters, making this a colder, slow ripening area that Veronica has clued in on, honing her abilities as one of the stars of Bierzo. Veronica farms organically, using a combination of barrel, amphorae, and stainless; in the fermentation room, Veronica seeks to push herself and her wine to the limit coaxing out the most from her fruit. Her Bierzo 'Quite' drinks like a nice Beaujolais and is a classic example, slightly reduced upon opening, with air it gives way to classic aromas of cassis, minerality, and savory component. A lower alcohol version than what is typically found in Bierzo, with incredible balance and refinement for the region. Veronica did a fantastic job again in 2020 and has proved that she can replicate her early successes; this is one of her best wines of all time. These are truly special and rare wine worth exploring for their beauty and unique profiles. Veronica Ortega is one of Northern Spain's must-watch producers, and we have a limited amount of some of the only bottles available in the USA.
Wine Advocate (Luis Gutierrez) 93+ points! "The 2020 Quite, an old-vine Mencía cuvée from vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo and Villadecanes, is lower in alcohol than the 2019 I tasted next to it (13.1%) and has a notably lower pH (3.25), which means more freshness. The differences are vintage related, as the vinification and élevage were similar—natural fermentation in stainless steel and malolactic and nine months aging in used 225-liter oak barriques and oak vats. 2020 was a more reductive year for reds, and this is a little more austere but with subdued floral character and notes of fresh meat and blood with an iron-like sensation (it comes from very red soils rich in iron!). This is more fluid and fresh than the 2019, with a vibrant finish that makes you salivate, more sophisticated and precise. 15,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2021."
2020 Verónica Ortega Bierzo Quite
2020 Verónica Ortega Bierzo Quite
This an exceptional effort from rising star Veronica Ortega; we love the wines she is making from the overlooked area of Bierzo, and the Quite is an excellent example of her skills and one of the best wines she has made yet. We have a limited amount in stock which are the only bottles in the USA.
Veronica Ortega is making some of the best wines in Bierzo and is one of the break-out stars of the region and the top new Female winemakers in the past five years. These incredible wines go above and beyond in this Northern Spanish terroir with a lovely level of detail. Veronica's passion for great wine led her to be one of the first to branch out into Cobrana close to the Bierzo Appellation limits. Soils here are slate and clay, but the most exciting part is its elevation of 700 meters, making this a colder, slow ripening area that Veronica has clued in on, honing her abilities as one of the stars of Bierzo. Veronica farms organically, using a combination of barrel, amphorae, and stainless; in the fermentation room, Veronica seeks to push herself and her wine to the limit coaxing out the most from her fruit. Her Bierzo 'Quite' drinks like a nice Beaujolais and is a classic example, slightly reduced upon opening, with air it gives way to classic aromas of cassis, minerality, and savory component. A lower alcohol version than what is typically found in Bierzo, with incredible balance and refinement for the region. Veronica did a fantastic job again in 2020 and has proved that she can replicate her early successes; this is one of her best wines of all time. These are truly special and rare wine worth exploring for their beauty and unique profiles. Veronica Ortega is one of Northern Spain's must-watch producers, and we have a limited amount of some of the only bottles available in the USA.
Wine Advocate (Luis Gutierrez) 93+ points! "The 2020 Quite, an old-vine Mencía cuvée from vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo and Villadecanes, is lower in alcohol than the 2019 I tasted next to it (13.1%) and has a notably lower pH (3.25), which means more freshness. The differences are vintage related, as the vinification and élevage were similar—natural fermentation in stainless steel and malolactic and nine months aging in used 225-liter oak barriques and oak vats. 2020 was a more reductive year for reds, and this is a little more austere but with subdued floral character and notes of fresh meat and blood with an iron-like sensation (it comes from very red soils rich in iron!). This is more fluid and fresh than the 2019, with a vibrant finish that makes you salivate, more sophisticated and precise. 15,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2021."
