Descendientes de Jose Palacios : Petalos 2020

The finesse and expression of a Bierzo red wine

The estate

Alvaro Palacios, an illustrious winemaker who has been the driving force behind the quality-oriented renaissance in Spanish wines over the last twenty years, founded Descendientes de J. Palacios with his nephew, Ricardo Perez, with the ambition of revealing the enormous potential of the Bierzo DO (Denominación de Origen). This family-owned winery is named after Alvaro's father and Ricardo's grandfather who passed away in 2000.

They chose the town of Corullón, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, Spain, due to its unique terroir. Forerunners, passionate and sharing exactingly high standards, Alvaro Palacios and Ricardo Perez produce wines that authentically express the diversity and richness of the terroirs of the Bierzo DO. These fine Spanish wines are recognised as being among the most emblematic of the appellation.

The wine

Pétalos del Bierzo by Descendientes de Jose Palacios is a Bierzo wine made from vineyards that spread over 90 hectares and 6 villages, including Corullon and Villafranca del Bierzo. This mosaic of terroirs, located between 450 and 1100 metres above sea level, is unique due to both its vines, which are between 40 and 90 years old, and the heterogeneity of its soils, which are made up of slate with sandstone, quartz and mixed clay. This wine-growing area benefits from a continental climate with a strong oceanic influence.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand and partially destemmed, and undergo alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts in wooden and stainless steel vats. Maceration lasts 43 days. Malolactic fermentation for 2 months in wooden and stainless steel vats. The wine is aged for 8 months in French oak barrels.

The blend

Pétalos del Bierzo 2020 by Descendientes de Jose Palacios comprises a blend of Mencia (92%), 5% of other red grape varieties (Alicante Bouchet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne, Negreda) and 3% of white grape varieties (Valenciana, Jerez, Godello)