Descendientes de José Palacios, Pétalos, Bierzo, Spain 2014

“…the aromas, if subtle, are phenomenal, very complete and balanced, with an extra degree of complexity when compared with the 2013. The harvest was a little healthier without being easy (or dry). There is great volume in the palate, fleshy, juicy and rich without being heavy, medium-bodied, somehow similar to the 2012 even if it still needs to develop further complexity. There’s always a subdued minerality, a texture and mouthfeel difficult to find in wines of this price level. This is approachable now, but it will be better in one year and should develop nicely in bottle. There are some 380,000 bottles of this wine, as they are limited by the space they have in the current winery. They will be able to grow when the new one is ready.”-93WA

The idea of making great wine from old-vine Mencía never left Álvaro Palacios. And his experience in Priorat—particularly with L’Ermita—convinced him of Bierzo’s enormous potential. Meanwhile, his nephew Ricardo Perez had finished enological studies in Bordeaux and was travelling across France, absorbing everything he could about great wines. He worked the harvest at Château Margaux and did an internship at Moueix, the owner of Châteaux Petrus and Trotanoy. Meanwhile, he frequently visited Álvaro, coming to share a belief in Bierzo’s potential. In 1998, the two decided on a joint venture and set out in search of the region’s finest old vineyards.