2020 Descendientes de J. Palacios Villa de Corullon (750ml)

Mencia from Bierzo, Castilla y Leon, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
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When it comes to the Bierzo wines from iconic 100 pt. winemaker Alvaro Palacios, the Wine Advocate’s Spanish expert Luis Gutierrez doesn’t mince any words: “Descendientes de J. Palacios is the most coherent, moving, thrilling and consistent wine project in Spain. Period.” Here’s a terrific opportunity to stock up on these magnificently crafted beauties from Descendientes de J. Palacios and confirm what their loyal fans already know – these delicious Spanish reds are some of Spain’s top values as well.

During the late 1980s, Alvaro Palacios travelled throughout Spain searching for a special terroir from which he could craft his native country’s greatest wine, deciding on Priorat as the place to launch his project and achieving international critical acclaim with the single vineyard L’Ermita. Never losing sight of his second choice, the Bierzo DO in northwest Spain, Alvaro formed a partnership with his nephew Ricardo Perez, also a Bordeaux-trained enologist with experience at Chateau Margaux, establishing Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in Bierzo’s rugged hillsides in the foothills of the Sierra de Los Ancares, the combination of its poor schist soils and unique protected microclimate deemed the perfect terroir for growing the indigenous red grape Mencia and producing fragrant, mineral-driven wines often likened to Pinot Noir. Sourced from a patchwork of organically farmed parcels with vines over 60 years of age near the village of Corullon, the elegant 93 pt. 2020 Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos is a blend of mainly Mencia co-planted and co-fermented with other local grapes from a diverse range of soils, altitudes and exposures, yielding exotic aromas of fresh, pure fruit hinting of graphite and spice and “always one of the best values not only of Bierzo but for the whole of Spain” according to the Wine Advocate’s Gutierrez. Described as getting “better and better with each passing vintage” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Schachner, the impressive 97 pt. 2020 Descendientes de J. Palacios Villa de Corullon is sourced from an array of the villages’ top high-altitude parcels planted with vines ranging up to 90 years old, a beautifully crafted, harmonious expression of the diverse terroir boasting gorgeous floral aromas and vivid, lush fruit with suave, seamless tannins poised to age for another decade.

Described by the Wine Enthusiast as “Spain’s most exciting wine region” but off the radar of many Spanish wine aficionados, these 2020 Descendiente de J. Palacios selections might certainly garner a higher premium given the hefty price tag of the Alvaro Palacios L’Ermita yet remain delightfully affordable and one of Spain’s top buys, value priced to scoop up by the case and reach for without hesitation.

97WA

95JS

I was blown away by the 2020 wines in barrel in June 2021 and found the 2020 Villa de Corullón very ready, open, expressive, floral and ethereal. It destroyed the idea I had of a warm and ripe 2020. Ricardo Pérez Palacios told me he was thinking of bottling the 2020s earlier, as they didn't need a long élevage, just nine or 10 months in barrel. The wine is pale, the palest Corullón ever, with 13.7% alcohol—perhaps the vines got blocked and didn't develop more color compounds or sugar. The wine makes me think of a red from Jura; it has a different profile and is more delicate, ethereal and full of light and energy. Pérez, who hates comparisons with other regions, couldn't stop saying that it felt like a Morey Saint Denis! It's all flowers and red fruit, with a lot of super fine tannins (the 2019 tannins are rougher) that are round and give it a velvety texture with no rusticity—elegant and balanced. There is a nice balance between tannin and acidity, something this has in common with the 2019, which makes the vintages quite unusual, because being warm, the wines show balance. Today, it feels more like Moncerbal than the Moncerbal bottling; nevertheless, Corullón is around 40% from Moncerbal. ... It has to be my favorite Corullón to date. 22,183 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in October 2021.

97 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 261 - Jun 2022)

Slightly reductive at first, then it opens up with a hint of roasted sesame that colors the dark raspberries, strawberries and the tangy profile of white pepper, dried herbs and agave. Really long and vertical on the palate, with very tight and dusty tannins that still need at least a year or two to integrate more. Ethereal and lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink from 2024.

95 points, James Suckling (Sep 2022)

Alcohol By Volume: 14.1%

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$49.98

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This item is a pre-order. The estimated arrival date is still being determined. 12 bottles available.

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