The west-facing vines relished the afternoon sun in this temperamental vintage and the wine is suitably lifted and fragrant. Notes of balsam, black tea and cassis are all entwined and a cool, sophisticated mid-palate promises great things. 
Simon Field - Wine Buyer

From a single parcel of vines, La Faraona is the best Mencia on the market. The nose is beautiful with heady violets, lavender, crushed rocks and forest floor. Alongside the abundance of aromatics, this has fleshy, ripe fruit flavours and captivating smoky oak notes from the 600-litre barrels. The minerality keeps everything fresh and pure but a powerful structure suggests this will be a long lived one. This has such a long finish, showing all the details and layers you expect in exceptional wine.
Laura Atkinson - Private Account Manager

The Calvestra Estate is located at an impressive 900 metres above the Mediterranean. You may not yet have heard of the Merseguera grape variety, but if you think of a Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier blend, you will not be far away. A year’s ageing in Burgundian barrels adds mealy softly honeyed notes to a citric core, and gentle hints of cinnamon and clove adorn the back palate in deference to the prospect of a dignified development. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Challenging vintage conditions were overcome with significant success in 2013. A blend of 90 percent Viura and 10 percent Malvasía, the wine has been fermented and aged in new French oak, with lees stirring. The relatively early bottling has ensured freshness, with a notable citric attack and then notes of honey and almond to round out the mid-palate. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Bierzo's principal grape is the obscure, indigenous red variety Mencía. While Bierzo is a relatively new wine appellation (a DO 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. Alvaro Palacios, with his nephew Ricardo Perez, established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo.

This is almost the definitive expression of Mencía, its vines perched on a stark vineyard of pure schist. Typically aromatic, this Mencía combines concentration with remarkable finesse. Floral notes lead to dark, well-defined blueberry and blackberry fruit. It has lovely depth, but is linear in style, so you’ll experience a luxurious glide along the palate. There is a real lightness of touch on show here. Very classy indeed.