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Descendientes de Jose Palacios
Ricardo Palacios
Ricardo Palacios


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Descendientes de Jose Palacios Information Sheet
Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Villafranca del Bierzo, Leon
People: Alvaro & Ricardo Palacios, Owners & Winemakers
Supplier: http://www.rarewineco.com


Alvaro Palacios was already a celebrated producer of Priorat when he teamed up with his nephew, Ricardo Perez, a Bordeaux trained enologist, to fulfill his early passion for making great old vine wine from the Mencia grape. In the estate vineyards around the town of Corullón, Alvaro and Ricardo believe they have found a unique combination of soils, old vines, and a distinctive variety that will yield their own grands crus. Beginning with 2001, the estate began to make their case with individual vineyard bottlings with an emphasis on biodynamic viticulture. The winery is dedicated to Alvaro's father, and Ricardo's grandfather, who passed away in early 2000.

Seven wines are made. The first, Pétalos del Bierzo, is assembled from old hillside and hilltop vines from across Bierzo's western edge. The wine is vinified for immediate appeal, but it retains the estate's signature finesse and restraint. Corullón is an assemblage from old-vine parcels in and around this town. Its combination of generosity and precision makes a case not only for Corullón's special status, but also the superiority of Alvaro's and Ricardo's winemaking. Robert Parker, Jr. said Corullón "may be the finest wine of the appellation." There are, in addition, five extraordinary single vineyard wines made: San Martin, Fontelas, Moncerbal, Las Lamas and La Faraona. Each is a distinctive expression of a remarkable and compelling terroir.

"As for the wines, they are different from the rest of the Bierzo; they have to be, because their very old vineyards are located in the village of Corullon, high up in the mountains, some of them at 1,200 meters altitude on slate slopes where they yield minuscule quantities of grapes. They also carry out very detailed work, both in the vineyards and in the winery, and the result shows." - The Wine Advocate 8/2013

Media Links
Wine Spectator: Featured Winemaker, Alvaro Palacios
Decanter.com: Alvaro Palacios, Spanish Wanderer
Items
Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 'Corullon' Bierzo DO Net Price — —
Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 'Petalos' Bierzo DO Net Price Reviews —
Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 Las Lamas, Bierzo DO Net Price Reviews —
Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 Moncerbal, Bierzo DO (wooden box) Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 'Petalos' Bierzo DO
Rating: 90

Deep ruby. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by suave floral and dark chocolate nuances. Blackberry and bitter cherry flavors become sweeter with air, picking up a peppery note that adds vibrancy. Closes spicy and long, with sneaky tannins and an echo of bitter chocolate.

- International Wine Cellar (10/1/2013)

Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 'Petalos' Bierzo DO
Rating: 92

At the end of the day, if I really have to recommend a wine from this collection, the one I’d buy for my cellar, it will be the 2011 Petalos del Bierzo. It is 95% Mencia mixed in the field with 3% of white grapes and the rest Alicante Bouschet and other reds, fermented after de-stemming in open wood and inox vats and aged ten months in French barrels, of which 20% are new. Eighty percent of the grapes are grown on slate in the Corullon vineyards, with different altitudes and orientations, and the remaining 20% come from clay soils from the valley. It all adds to the complexity of the wine. The wine is very aromatic and flowery (violets), almost heady, with clear notes of blueberries and licorice. The oak is perfectly integrated, almost imperceptible, save for a touch of spices and a lactic hint denoting a very young wine. It has a medium body, with a thick silky texture, is very tasty, with some acidic strawberry flavors. This is one of my go-to wines at restaurant lists, as it offers very good value for money and is widely available in Spain (and elsewhere, I hope!), as 320,000 bottles were produced. This could very well be the best Petalos produced to date. Drink now through 2019.

- The Wine Advocate (8/29/2013)

Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 Las Lamas, Bierzo DO
Rating: 94

The 2011 Las Lamas is a true expression of both the vintage and the vineyard, which is usually the most powerful of all the wines produced by the winery. Perhaps 2011 imprinted more character in the wine than 2010 did. The nose is full of blueberries, peach and gunpowder, wet slate, peat and smoke notes. It’s a powerful wine, this is the only vineyard where they have some clay mixed with the slate. Some fine-grained tannins hint at the need of a couple of years in bottle. Drink 2015-2026.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Descendientes de Jose Palacios 2011 Moncerbal, Bierzo DO (wooden box)
Rating: 97

The 2011 Moncerbal is sheer reflection of the soil here, which is pure rock, pure slate: it imparts a very specific minerality to the wine. Extremely perfumed, it makes me think of quince, candied oranges, jasmine, almost the grape like sensation of Muscat, plenty of wild flowers and blueberry. A delirious nose, but not as exotic as other 2011s. Can you say the nose is blue? The palate displays round and silky tannins, a touch spicy (white pepper), with superb length. This is the one with the stronger personality. Drink 2016-2025.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)