Cesar Marquez Sufreiral 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service.

César Márquez comes from a family with a long winemaking tradition. After his studies and an experience in Argentina, he decided to launch his own project in El Bierzo in 2015.

Sufreiral is a blend of Mencía, Alicante Bouschet, and other red varietals, sourced from a parcel of over 100-year-old vines located approximately 620 meters above sea level. Here, the vines thrive in a continental Atlantic climate and are planted on calcareous soil. Yields are low, and the resulting wine is already considered one of the most iconic wines of El Bierzo. After manual harvesting, fermentation occurs with natural yeasts, and a quarter of the grapes are whole. Maceration lasts for two months, and the finished wine is then aged for one year in 600-liter French oak barrels.

On the nose, the wine reveals a broad and complex character with floral and fruity aromas and mineral nuances. On the palate, it is balanced, elegant, and smooth. It has a chalky minerality and a well-balanced, medium body. The alcohol content is also moderate. It has a good fruit concentration but is never opulent. The tannins are fine, and the finish is long and delicately savory. It pairs deliciously with lamb and grilled red meat, or with some spicy beef recipes.