An extraordinary example of mencia do Bierzo at its best.

A little bit different from '09 bottling (one of my favs from last year) but this is still dynamite. Lots of blackberry/cherry notes along with a fresh floral quality. Along with this, there's a hint of spice from the oak and a slight herbaceousness that I didn't find in the '09. It's medium weight with nice fresh acidity and with youthful, chalky tannins. Hold on to this for a couple years if you can. You'll definitely be rewarded. Tasted November 2012.

all mencia is aged briefly in new french oak and then in older barrels before bottling.
Dark ruby, ripe red and blackcurrant aromas are complicated by anise, cola and sexy oak spices. soft dark berry preserve flavours gain minerality and firmness with air. Zesty cherry skin and mineral notes carry through a long gently tannic finish. Josh reynolds, international wine cellar sept 2012.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting and tasting with the artistic maker of these wines, Alvaro Palacios. His vibrant personality is contagious and his wines exude his raw passion. This wine is full of plush ripe fruit and fresh forest and it lingers in your mouth for minutes. Get some of these while you can, they will be sold out fast. A perfect wine for your favorite braised meat dish.

Can a wine be 'floral forward'? Because if it can, then that is what this wine is. But not in a dainty way, in an intensely perfumed way. Violets with layers of dark berry fruit, a yogurt or cream like quality and a subtle oak spiciness combine to make for a great wine.

It's delicious right now, with chalky tannins that hint at even more to come if you can wait. Maybe buy a few bottles - some for now, some for later.

Dec 14/2012

The 2010 Petalos is starting to drink nicely now. Dark ruby with a nice floral bouquet that is opening niccely. The palate is medium to full bodied with a rich mouthfeel and good integration of fruit, oak and acidity. Tannins subside with a bit of air. This could cellar for a few more years, but is approachable now. If you have a few, open one now and compare again in 2015. Oct. 2014.

Petalos NEVER dissapoints.

The 2010 Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos is a light to medium bodied, fruity wine, with intense aromas of raspberry, red currant, caramel and floral notes of wild rose. It is tannic and has a finish of medium, slightly bitter length. Both the tannins and the bitterness will dissipate as the wine ages - drink 2014-2020. My impression: NICE, 90 pts - currently the LCBO is selling the 2009 vintage that is nearly sold out.

Tasted during 'The Wines of Alvaro Palacios' tasting organized by WineAlign on March 19th, 2012.

If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

Still floral, bit funky barnyardy but very complex, long delicious and balanced. Still has zip and a couple years life in it, but probably at peak.

This wine was first for me trying the mencia grape variety. Very fragrant with fresh cherry, and floral hints. Smooth tannins, and a medium body. Sweet cherry, soft vanilla, and subtle vegetal notes come through. Extra long finish.
Tasted March 2012.

Ripe, rich