César Márquez ‘La Salvacion’ 2022

La Salvación is harvested from centuries-old vines that have grown among the Mencía vineyards. The name perfectly describes the desire to recover the century-old Godello grapes that are left forgotten in the vineyards after the harvest of the Mencía grapes. Centenarian godello vines are rare in El Bierzo. It should be added that the small size of the bunches and their ripeness, which can occur 15 days earlier than a 30-year-old Godello, favour this distinction. As a white wine it has roundness and good acidity.

Vinification: The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and pressed in the last week of August. Unlike previous harvests, no maceration was carried out. Fermented in barrels, without batonnage, temperature control or the addition of yeasts. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting notes: It's quite tight, serious and a little closed. It's riper and rounder than the 2021, with 13.5% alcohol, but retaining freshness and acidity, with a pH of 3.09 and 7.35 grams of acidity. It's juicy and tender, with a chalky sensation on the finish. It's round and very accessible. 7,936 bottles were filled in August 2023, after the wine had spent 12 months in 500-litre French oak barrels. Robert Parker

Grape Varieties: Godello