All the Michelini i Mufatto wines are outstanding, yet this is the one that shares fewer similarities with their other wines. However, it does most resemble other great Bierzo wines. The reason for this, its place of origin: the El Rapolao vineyard, where, despite being one of Valtuille’s coolest areas, the climate is warmer than can be found in Ponferrada, from where the rest of the Michelini i Mufatto wines originate, and the soil has a different composition: clay, instead of slate. This means the wine has a higher alcohol content than what we usually find from this family, although equally fresh, juicy and with their customary finesse. Undoubtedly, a Rapolao to add to the list of essentials for getting to know this exceptional vineyard, shared by master winemaker Raúl Pérez’s group of friends.
Food pairing
Sausages and hamStews and casserolesRiceRed meatGameCured cheeses
Ratings and awards
2019
94 PK
2018
95+ PK
17.5 JR
2017
93+ PK
16 JR
2016
95 PK
PK: ParkerJR: Jancis
robinson
Wine critics reviewsReviews by Parker and Jancis Robinson
The 2019 El Rapolao feels very different from the Michelini i Mufatto range. It's a wine from a different soil and climate (on clay and a warmer climate), from the first grapes they pick—rounder, riper and, if you like, more "Bierzo." They do a shorter maceration, they press pretty quickly. This is the only wine that is 100% Mencía, as it's a younger vineyard from a local grower, planted 20-something years ago. The other wines are always a field blend with other grapes (even some whites), as it' all very old vines. It feels abundantly tannic and has 14% alcohol, while the rest of wines are 12.5%. It's still fresh, but in the context of its siblings it feels quite different. It fermented in tinaja with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels. Every year they get 1,000 kilos of grapes, so there's always some 900 bottles. This was bottled in November 2020.
An opulent vintage compared with the two previous. This has great tension held by firm acidity. The chalky tannins are very well managed over a rather black fruit expression. Deep, ethereal and beautiful in its essence. An exuberant year where the aromas of truffle manifest more than the fruit.
El Rapolao is a vineyard situated in Valtuille, known for having been the first ‘paraje’ or specific site to appear on several Bierzo wine labels, once regulations had been set up to identify small geographical units. This system has created the following divisions in the Bierzo: regional wines (vinos regionales), village wines (vinos de villa), wines from a specific site (vinos de paraje), wines from cru classified vineyards (vinos de viñas clasificadas) and grand cru classified vineyards (grandes viñas clasificadas). This one is a vineyard shared by different vine growers-winemakers, planted on a slope in one of the coolest areas of Valtuille, due to its easterly orientation, and which characteristically provides wines of great delicacy, in the Burgundy style.
