Descendientes de Jose Palacios : Las Lamas 2021

The bottled 2021 Las Lamas started a little closed and took some time to unfurl in the glass. It developed some medicinal notes, hints of dry roses and spices with fine but slightly dusty tannins, not as refined as those from Moncerbal. It develops further notes with more time in the glass, white flowers. There's more clay here and more organic matter than in Moncerbal, so the cooler nights don't manage to cool the soil down; the grapes have a more steady ripeness, and the wines are a little more generous. 3,752 bottles, 86 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in January 2023.

Delineated, precise and elegant berries with subtle white pepper funk, mineral and white sesame characters make this so attractive. Nimble and almost “Atlantic” with fresh, tangy fruit that follows through to a textured, medium-bodied palate full of silky, mineral-textured tannins. The long, even and cohesive finish is persistent and ethereal. From organically grown grapes. Delicious now, but don’t underestimate its potential for aging, as balance is the key.

The 2021 Las Lamas is Mencía and others from Corullón, Bierzo. Deep garnet in hue, it reflects slightly riper harvest decisions compared to other wines from the producer. Pomegranate tones come across as jammy, combined with plum. Broad and slightly plush, its fine-grained tannins provide structure without being restrictive. It is long, finishing with ripe fruit and moderate juiciness.