More than 40 years ago, when the trend was to uproot vines everywhere and replace them with cereal fields (since the value of wheat and barley more than multiplied that of grapes), Mauro Pérez knew how to transmit to his children “respect for the land, his passion for wine and the taste for a job well done.” They say that Mauro was a “industrious and innately intelligent” man.
The 17 hectares of vineyards that he left to his family are the pillar on which, in 1980, the Pérez Pascuas brothers founded their own winery in the Burgos town of Pedrosa de Duero. Subsequently, the Pérez Pascuas, along with a few other wineries and cooperatives in the area, joined together to create their own denomination that would house their wines, thus founding the Ribera del Duero Regulatory Council in 1982.
Its most iconic wine is Pérez Pascuas Gran Selección. Currently, the latest vintage of Pérez Pascuas Gran Selección coexists on the market, that of 2015, and those of 2014 (mineral) and 2012 (with marked notes of coconut and roundness). Those from 2015 and 2014 are offered at 259 euros, and those from 2012 at 269 euros. Its cork stopper alone already costs 1.60 euros. Excellent vintages such as 2001, 2005 or 2009 (which still exhibits great balance and good acidity) attest to the great aging potential of this wine of the highest level.
From the winery it is stated that "it represents all the good winemaking of the Pérez Pascuas family." And it is added that "all the love and the highest demands come together in this wine made with grapes from vineyards that are more than 80 years old, resulting in a wine that represents the essence of the Ribera del Duero."
The 2015 vintage began with a winter with good water reserves in the subsoil. Spring was warm and dry until the month of June, when intense rainfall occurred coinciding with the beginning of flowering. A summer with some well-interrupted storms gave way to a very dry autumn. The harvest was slightly earlier than the usual dates, but the analytical and organoleptic characteristics and the balance of the berries were ideal, allowing the fruit to be picked at the optimal state of ripeness. The weather made it possible to avoid rushing.
The wines from this vintage, rated as excellent, have good color intensity, important fruit notes on the nose and a high tannic potential on the palate with sweet tannins that indicate good phenolic ripening of the berries. It ended up being a vintage that was very reminiscent of that of 2005, but with touches of balance and fruit from the 2011 vintage, which already suggested that there would be “a multitude of wines of the highest quality, whose longevity will be very high.” , according to the Regulatory Council of the DO Ribera del Duero.
The Tinto Fino grape for Pérez Pascuas Gran Selección comes from the Valtarreña estate, a small plot inherited from the Pérez Pascuas parents that is more than 80 years old, where clay-calcareous soil alternates with sandy loam areas. It is located at 840 meters above sea level. The average yield was 2,250 kilos per hectare. It was aged for 26 months in American and French oak barrels. Before being marketed, it rested in the bottle for a minimum of 36 months. The production of this vintage was 3,965 75 cl bottles. Bottling took place in March 2018.
The Wine Advocate (Parker) or Tim Atkin gave 96 points out of 100 to this vintage, the Gourmets Guide 98 points and the Vivir el Vino guide 100. The general director of Bodegas Hnos. Pérez Pascuas -Viña Pedrosa remembers having paid $900 for a single bottle of this wine in restaurants in Brazil or New York, and the trouble he went through to return with the invoices to the winery located on Ribera del Duero Avenue in Pedrosa de Duero.
The key to the wines of Bodegas Hnos. Pérez Pascuas -Viña Pedrosa lies in its commitment to quality and attention to detail, producing only red wines for aging: Crianzas, Reservas and Gran Reservas. Currently, there are 124 hectares of glass vineyards on property located around the winery, in the heart of the Ribera del Duero. With the firm objective of reflecting the identity of their territory in their wines, they raise levels of biodiversity through traditional, responsible, sustainable and respectful viticulture.
To obtain the maximum quality of the wines, they control the production per hectare of their glass vineyards, seeking low yields. They are betting on organic and regenerative agriculture, as well as respectful pruning and plant covers. Therefore, they do not use herbicides or pesticides. They make mass selections of their own plant material to replenish their viticultural heritage.
From this family winery that has not been spared from schisms, it is stated that “the respect for the terroir, the research, the effort and the enthusiasm of the Pérez Pascuas family result in high quality wines, with surprising regularity year after year.” and highly valued throughout the world.” It is added that “our reflective awareness of the nature of life establishes the principles, values and ideas that govern our way of working.”
Thus, they point out that “we know that achievements are the just merit of daily effort and that our efforts to improve the environmental, social and cultural environment allow us to move forward. "The defense of the rural environment and life in the countryside, respect for popular traditions and historical practices, together with the protection of natural heritage, are the basis of our work as winegrowers and winemakers."
Annual production is around 600,000 bottles, which is distributed among its six references: Cepa Gavilán Crianza, Viña Pedrosa Crianza, Finca La Navilla, Viña Pedrosa Reserva, Viña Pedrosa Gran Reserva and Pérez Pascuas Gran Selección. They are present in nearly 50 countries, exporting 40% of production.
Today, Bodegas Hermanos Pérez Pascuas, according to its managers, “is a solid and globally recognized project, where two generations work side by side with a common objective: to make wines of the highest quality, a faithful reflection of the place where they were born.” Its barrel washing train is also exemplary.
They have also opened up to wine tourism, offering guided tours and tasting of their wines with a traditional Castilian aperitif. At the same time, they offer their facilities for private or business meetings. And they have the Pérez Pascuas Club, which allows you to enjoy a selection of bottles chosen expressly for its members; in addition to special conditions, annual shipments, gifts or exclusive discounts.
