This is another village wine from his Viticultura de Monta?a series, the 2012 A Trabe is a indigenous blend of Mencía, Bastardo, Zamarrica,Tinto Serodio, Verdello Tinto, Mouratón, Garnacha Tintorera, Gran Negro, Dona Blanca, Torrontés from a single vineyard in the village of A Trabe, a vineyard planted at 790 meters altitude with very old vines, between 60 and 100 years of age. The full clusters were foot trodden and the wine fermented in an open oak vat where it went through malolactic and three months maceration in contact with the skins followed by six months in stainless steel and 13 months in barriques. It has a different, slightly creamy nose with aroma of cereals marked by the wood with traces of incense and smoke, perhaps peat, feeling earthy and mineral with red berry fruit. The palate is light to medium-bodied, with fine tannins and an earthy, slightly rustic texture that should get polished with a little time in bottle. Only 600 bottles were produced.

The 2006 A Trabe is a blend of Bastardo, Mencia, Zamarrica, Verdello Tinta, Serodio Tinta, and Garnacha Tintorera, a veritable witch’s brew of indigenous grapes from the DO of Monterrei. One might ask why write about a wine of which only 40 bottles are coming to the USA? Just documenting that something so unique exists seems sufficient, and sometimes people do actually hit the lottery. The other-worldly bouquet delivers scents of dates, figs, ginger, and chocolate-covered cherries. On the palate the wine is dry, remarkably multi-dimensional, and perfectly balanced. Exceptionally long in the finish, it will surely evolve into who knows what but I’d love to be there when the bottle is opened. The extraordinary wines of Raul Perez must be tasted to be believed. Words simply cannot do them justice. The problem is that they are produced in minuscule quantities.Importer: Patrick Mata and Alberto Orte, Ole Imports, New Rochelle, NY; tel. (914) 740-4724

Raul Perez’s 2005 A Trabe Red is a blend of the indigenous varieties Mencia, Bastardo, and Zammarica. Only 75 cases were produced, 30 for the USA market. Purple-colored, the wine yields a kinky, exotic, unique perfume that nearly defies words. Toasty, complex, and spicy, there are mineral notes as well as a multitude of red and black fruits. Supple, smooth, and deceptively easy-going, this brilliant effort has considerable structure, depth, and concentration. Give it 3-5 years to reveal its full potential and drink it through 2020. These are brilliant, artisanal, hand-crafted wines that words simply cannot begin to describe. They must be experienced to be believed.Importer: Patrick Mata, Ole Imports; www.oleimports.com