Descendientes de J. Palacios, Pétalos del Bierzo, Bierzo, Spain, 2019

Overview of the Wine
Descendientes de J. Palacios is owned by Ricardo Perez Palacios, the nephew of renowned winemaker Alvaro Palacios, who is known for his great work in the Priorat and assists the family winery.

The grapes used comes from plots of very old vines, aged between 50 and 90 years old. These are underperforming, making the fruit of high quality. The vineyards that give rise to Pétalos del Bierzo are planted mainly on slate floors and are located on slopes. The harvest is done manually and the first selection occurs in the same vineyard.

In the winery, the grapes are destemmed and fermented for about 25 days in open wooden vats and open stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation is carried out for two months in closed wooden vats and open stainless steel tanks. Subsequently, Pétalos del Bierzo is aged for 10 months in French oak barrels before bottling, it is filtered and clarified.

It's mostly Mencía, but there are other grapes varieties in the vineyards; they estimate about 3% of other reds, Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne, Negreda, etc. and around 4% whites, Valenciana, Jerez and Godello, half from Corullón and the other half from other villages. The grapes were partly destemmed and fermented in open-top stainless steel and oak vats with 25 days of maceration where the wine underwent a slow three-month malolactic. It matured in barrel for 12 months. This is the wine that showcases the house style and the character of the vintage, which, in this case, is delicate and very much from the zone.

Biodynamic.

Grape / Blend
Mencia, 3% other reds

Origin
Castilla León, Bierzo, Spain

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The wine is aged in large oak vats for 10 months to give it immediate appeal, while still retaining the estate's signature finesse and restraint.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Even though the 2020 is already hitting the shelves, I also tasted the 2019 Pétalos, a very balanced vintage that shows moderate alcohol and great balance. It is very approachable right now, open aromatically, and despite what the parameters might read, the wine comes through as fresher than the 2020. This is a wine produced with around 80% purchased grapes and 20% grapes from their own vineyards. There are notes of berries but also plenty of herbs; it's aromatic, complex and with very fine tannins. It's a classical continental vintage from Bierzo.

93 Points - James Suckling
Dark cherries, plums, dried herbs and stones on the nose. Full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Rich, layered, and textured with minerality and balance. Supple finish. Drink or hold.

Product size: 750ml