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Cesar Marquez Vino de Paraje Sufreiral 2023

$4499

A captivating single-parcel wine from Spain's Bierzo region, merging ancient tradition with meticulous vineyard work. The 85% Mencía base comes from centenarian vines planted at 620 meters in limestone-rich Toral de los Vados, with Alicante Bouschet and white grapes completing the blend. Two months of maceration and a year aging in 400-liter French oak create a wine that balances chalk-driven minerality with elegant floral notes and plush red fruit.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

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Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

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Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

97 points

"The 2023 Sufreiral is 100% Mencía from a hillside vineyard on slate soils in Bierzo. Aromas of soft herbs, cherry, mint, violet, pea shoots and elderberry unfold with a subtle florality. The talc-like texture and compact frame lead to juiciness and tension. This is energetic, fresh and full of nuance. A lively, engaging Bierzo red." —Joaquín Hidalgo

Robert Parker

98 points

"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." —Luis Gutiérrez

More about Cesar Marquez

We're always looking for the next region of pure, terroir-driven and affordable wines to emerge. As we've observed the quality and diversity of producers from Bierzo grow over the years, we can safely say that this Mencia-rich region in northwest Spain is on our short list. In the early 90’s Raúl Pérez began his quest to put Bierzo and its flagship red grape Mencia on the map by spearheading an effort to establish a Cru classification system. Today we are happy to offer examples of Mencias that follow Raúl’s efforts, made by his nephew César Márquez.

When looking out over the rolling hills of Bierzo it’s easy to see why this region lends itself to single parcel expression wines. The microclimates throughout this part of Castilla y Leon are dramatic, as are the variability of its soils. It’s not uncommon to be walking through a vineyard with full sun beating down and see an intense rainstorm drenching the opposite hillside. As for the soil, in a single vineyard, the border between quartzic granite and schist is as clear as the horizon line.

Raúl Pérez and Álvaro Palacios (of Priorat fame) were among the first to see this potential and began establishing a cru system for the notable vineyards surrounding the village of Valtuille. The idea caught on and, after much planning and organizing, an official Cru classification system was approved by the Spanish government in July of 2017. It’s in this dynamic time in Bierzo’s viticultural history that César Márquez grew up and became inspired.

César's Mencias are a window onto this complex terroir that is Bierzo through a filter of young mind that is both youthful and experimental, but also studied in tradition. César’s family founded the famous Castro Ventosa winery in Valtuille in 1752. With access to some of the most cherished Crus in Bierzo and with experience of working closely with his uncle at his facilities at La Vízcaina César debuted his wines on the world stage in 2015. To say they took the world by storm is a massive understatement.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Mencia

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Elegant , Minerally

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Tasting Profile


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