"This keeps its position as one of the best values in Spain." - Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
The Palacios name is basically royalty in Spanish wine, thanks in large part to Alvaro's iconic, collectible Priorat masterpieces. However, he and his nephew Ricardo Perez are also setting the bar in the the dynamic Bierzo region, home so some of Spain's brightest rising stars. Descendientes de Jose Palacios is a tribute to their forebear, Alvaro's father and Ricardo's grandfather. They chose Bierzo for its rugged landscape, distinctive micro-terroirs, and ancient plots of the prized Mencía varietal, specifically the western village of Corullón.
These days, the estate is one of the most lauded and admired in all of Spain, with everything from the singular parcel wines to the entry-level Petalos garnering serious critical acclaim. That trend continues with the 2023 Petalos, sourced from high-elevation, hilltop sites around Corullón. With several rock-solid, 93-point reviews under its belt, the 2023 is yet another reference-point expression of the region and the varietal. "Long and lengthy on the palate, this is the wine that set the producers on their mission to show what Bierzo could do," notes Virginie Boone writing for Jeb Dunnuck. Wine Spectator calls it "a suave red offering depth and focus ... harmonious throughout, integrating supple, fine-grained tannins and plum skin–infused acidity." As Wine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez notes above, the value proposition in the Petalos is once again off the charts, delivering serious pedigree and class for a sub-$25 price that screams case-buy potential.
The 2023 Pétalos has around 20% grapes from Corullón and the rest bought from around 100 families across Bierzo, approximately 91% Mencía, 8% whites and 1% other reds that fermented in open-top oak and stainless steel vats with indigenous yeast. Malolactic fermentation took a couple of months in oak and stainless steel, and the wine matured in barriques and bocoyes for 10 months. It comes in at 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.74. It has a serious nose that combines berry fruit with herbs and a licorice twist, and it is a little tighter and more herbal, denoting more sensation of freshness in the wine even if the year was also warmish. But the peaks of heat did not reach the highs they did in 2022. It makes you think of the Bierzo wines from yesteryear, with the rain during the harvest. It's elegant but there's weight. Despite the price level, this is a wine that aged beautifully in bottle, something you don't expect in an entry-level wine. Final production figures were as expected, 297,867 bottles. The wine was bottled between January and April 2025. This keeps its position as one of the best values in Spain.
93+ points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Jul 2025)
The 2023 Petalos is a smooth, supple, easy-to-drink Mencia made in a refined and elegant style with integrated acidity. Long and lengthy on the palate, this is the wine that set the producers on their mission to show what Bierzo could do. Dusty and earthy in cacao powder, it’s a complete, complex red from different villages in and around Corullon and Villafranca del Bierzo planted in clay, iron-rich, and sandy soils. Along with the majority of Mencia, it has Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne, Negreda, and other reds, as well as whites such as Jerez, Valenciana, Malvasia, and Godello, all from old bush vines. Delicious. Drink now through 2033.
93 points, Virginie Boone, Jeb Dunnuck (Jan 2026)
A suave red, offering depth and focus, with flavors of crushed mulberry and blackberry fruit, black olive, mountain herbs, pepper and paprika. Yet this is harmonious throughout, integrating supple, fine-grained tannins and plum skin–infused acidity. A minerally underpinning of smoke and crushed gravel emerges to drive the refined finish. Drink now through 2036. 25,000 cases made.
93 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Jun 2026)
This has dark cherries, underbrush, dried flowers and a bright edge on the nose. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with firm, focused tannins. It’s polished and angular, almost skeletal in structure. About 85% mencia with small amounts of other red and white varieties co-planted in the vineyard. Drink or hold.
93 points, Jacobo García Andrade, James Suckling (Jul 2025)
The 2023 Pétalos is a Mencía from Bierzo that blends fruit from both the lowlands and the slopes of Corullón in equal parts. Focused and precise, it offers hints of violet, wild herbs and fresh plum with touches of cherry and pomegranate. This is medium-bodied, juicy and supple, with delicate freshness and grippy tannins. Compared to the 2022, it feels more resolved and less compact, yet this retains its talc-like texture and a faint pink note.
92 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Sep 2025)
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