2014 Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos del Bierzo
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Tasting notes
Mencía from Corullón and Vilafranca del Bierzo villages. 60- to 100-year-old vines planted on slate soils. Tasted blind. Slightly close and earthy, complex, developing and showing red fruits, floral touches and spices. Medium bodied with plenty of fine-grained tannins. The palate boasts lots of flavours, particularly pungent spices. It is slightly lacking fruit concentration although it still holds up on the back palate. Not the best bottle of Pétalos I’ve had, but a must-taste within the region. (FC)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Pétalos del Bierzo was already up for tasting as they sell the wine quite quickly even if the volumes are not small, but the wine had only been in bottle for one week and it might have been a little closed, especially when compared with the aromatic 2013. However, the aromas, if subtle, are phenomenal, very complete and balanced, with an extra degree of complexity when compared with the 2013. The harvest was a little healthier without being easy (or dry). There is great volume in the palate, fleshy, juicy and rich without being heavy, medium-bodied, somehow similar to the 2012 even if it still needs to develop further complexity. There's always a subdued minerality, a texture and mouthfeel difficult to find in wines of this price level. This is approachable now, but it will be better in one year and should develop nicely in bottle. There are some 380,000 bottles of this wine, as they are limited by the space they have in the current winery. They will be able to grow when the new one is ready.