2021 Petalos, Descendientes de J. Palacios, Bierzo

£22.50 inc. VAT

A soft and elegant red using 100% Mencia grapes that punches well above its weight.

Descedientes de J. Palacios was established in Bierzo in 1998 by Alvaro Palacios who was part of the Priorat revolution of the 1980s. The winery is named in the honour of Alvaro’s father who passed away in 2000.

It is made from 60 year old vines planted on very steep hillsides with schist soils on which the Mencia grape thrives. Although it was Alvaro that set the winery up, it is his nephew Ricardo Perez that is at the helm here and has established himself as one of the leading winemakers in this relatively new wine appellation (it was awarded its Denominación de Origen in 1989).

The wine is aged for 10 months in French oak and this is what gives the wine a real Burgundian essence about it. 2021 is considered the finest in a run of three great vintage – 2019, 2020 & 2021.

This wine is not backward in coming forward as it presents its fresh berry fruit as soon as its poured in the glass. Aromas of strawberry, redcurrant and touches of plum are joined by spicy notes of liquorice and pepper as the wine gains complexity. The palate has wonderful intensity but there is elegance too and fruit is always kept in check and balance with the fresh acidity.

This is the perfect wine to drink with Iberico pork and even better if you can swirl, sniff and sip on a lazy summer’s evening whilst someone else is on barbecue duties.

13.5%