César Márquez El Rapolao

The 2019 El Rapolao is now a Vino de Paraje like the Pico Ferreira and Sufreiral from this vintage. It was produced with the grapes from a slow-ripening plot in the cru, the last to be harvested from the west-facing and slightly north-looking vineyard, but the wine retains a lot of freshness. It's always a little reductive, has moderate alcohol (all of the reds from 2019 and 2020 are below 13.5% alcohol) and is nicely textured with very fine tannins. It matured in 500- and 600-liter oak barrels (he introduced used 600-liter barrels in 2019, and in 2021 or 2022 he'll use 1,200-liter oak foudres), all well-seasoned and at least fourth use. It's floral and open, expressive and balanced. 1,200 bottles produced.