Cesar Marquez 2023 Sufreiral 750ml

The 2023 Sufreiral comes from a centenary plot in the village of Toral de los Vados on the other, southwest-facing side of Pico Ferreira, one of the few plots on limestone-based soils in Bierzo. It fermented in 1,000-liter vats, as he has different small plots that are vinified separately, with some 35% full clusters and indigenous yeasts (like all his wines). It matured in 600-liter oak barrels and a 1,200-liter oak vat for 12 months. It's very complete, floral and nuanced, elegant and fine-boned, with a different texture, chalky, given the limestone soils. The wine has 13.07% alcohol, a pH of 3.69 and 5.11 grams of acidity. 2022. This is very close to the quality of the 2021, which is remarkable. It has contained ripeness, 13.3% alcohol and a pH of 3.67. This is the most Burgundian of the 2022s. It fermented with 25% full clusters and matured in 500- and 600-liter oak barrels for 12 months. 1,940 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2024.

Score: 98 points -- Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate, 2025