Descendientes de Palacios
Prices:
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Álvaro Palacios is not exactly a new face on the wine scene; he has helped revolutionise the Spanish wine industry by making rich, complex wines in Priorat. Álvaro, with his nephew Ricardo Pérez, established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo. They named the estate in honour of Álvaro’s father who passed away in 2000.
Bottle
£68.00
Bottle 3 x 75cl 4cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl 1cs
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)
Bottle
£91.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£350.00
Simon Field MW, Berrys’ Spain Buyer
Bottle
£400.00
Bottle
£500.00
Bottle 3 x 75cl 2cs
The nose is mineral but there is a note of damp heather and a leathery, animal character which provides a nice contrast with the up-front red fruit. The palate is very dense and concentrated which bodes well for those of a ‘hoarding’ persuasion as a couple of years in the cellar are certainly necessary if this wine is to offer-up its true expression and stomp, flamenco-style across your taste buds.
Nicholas Stewart - Wine Buying Department
Bottle
£450.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
Bottle
£560.00
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Álvaro Palacios is not exactly a new face on the wine scene; he has helped revolutionise the Spanish wine industry by making rich, complex wines in Priorat. Álvaro, with his nephew Ricardo Pérez, established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo. They named the estate in honour of Álvaro’s father who passed away in 2000.
Bottle
£500.00
Bottle 3 x 75cl 1cs
Laura Atkinson - Private Account Manager
Bottle
£550.00
Bottle 3 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Magnum 1 x 150cl)
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Platinum medal winner at the 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards
These 60+-year-old Mencia vines around the village of Corullon are farmed biodynamically, and you can almost sense earthy, savouriness on the nose, full of generous plum and mulberry fruit. The palate has a lovely textural mouthcoating quality, hints of roasted meat and mocha. Great juice balanced off with crisp acidity, spice and pepper. Drink now and over the next five years.
Stuart Rae - Private Account Manager
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
This is almost the definitive expression of Mencía, its vines perched on a stark vineyard of pure schist, its wine distinctively aromatic, with a Cabernet-Franc-like garrigue and lavender freshness at the front of the palate, then real dark fruit concentration, fine new-oak tannins providing real backbone and support to the generously ripe palate.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 8cs
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Álvaro Palacios is not exactly a new face on the wine scene; he has helped revolutionise the Spanish wine industry by making rich, complex wines in Priorat. Álvaro, with his nephew Ricardo Pérez, established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo. They named the estate in honour of Álvaro’s father who passed away in 2000.
Alvaro Palacios is not exactly a new face in the wine scene – Alvaro has helped revolutionise the Spanish wine industry by making rich, complex wines in Priorat. His first wine there, 1995 L’Ermita, gained him recognition as one of the world's most inspired and dedicated winemakers (Alvaro produces two other compelling Priorat wines Finca Dofí and Les Terrasses). He continued to make waves with his involvement in other Spanish appellations, such as Ribera del Duero and Rioja.
Palacios comes from the large and esteemed Rioja winemaking family of Bodegas Palacios Remondo. In his early 20s Alvaro Palacios interned in Bordeaux at the side of Christian Moueix, the celebrated winemaker of Pomerol châteaus of Pétrus and Trotanoy. Upon his return to Spain he originally decided against getting involved in the family business and instead he pursued his own ventures where he would have the freedom to make distinctive, top-quality wines. His success in Priorat inspired him to search again for something new, this time putting his faith in the potential of Bierzo.
Bierzo's principal grape is the obscure, indigenous red variety Mencía. While Bierzo is a relatively new wine appellation (a Denominación de Origen since 1989), it has a wealth of very old vines, planted on extremely steep hillsides, and in this respect it much resembles the Priorat region.
Palacios with his nephew Ricardo Perez (who also spent time in Bordeaux) established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo. They named the estate in honour of Alvaro's father who passed away in 2000.
Their Descendientes de J. Palacios releases are all 100% Mencía wines:
Bierzo Corullón comes from 3 vineyards with vines from 60 to 100 years old. It is a vivid and unique, a red wine that marries rustic flavours with modern polish.
Petalos, the latest triumph from Alvaro Palacios, comes from 60 year-old vines and farmed biodynamically, is an intense wine that mingles beautifully wild plum, smoke and spice flavours.
Las Lamas is farmed at very low yields (15 hl/hr) some at an altitude of over 700 metres. This wine is the sine qua non of Alvaro Palacio’s adventure in Bierzo.