Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo Villa de Corullon 2023
We have 7 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
The village of Corullón sits in the western hills of Bierzo, a landscape defined by steep mountainsides and ancient hillside vineyards. The parcels selected for this wine climb sharply above the village at slopes of roughly 30–50 degrees, with elevations ranging from about 400 to 900 meters. These sites are rooted in friable schist, a fractured metamorphic soil that breaks easily and forces vines deep into the subsoil in search of water. The vineyards are extremely old—many between 60 and 100 years of age—and are farmed entirely by hand, often with the assistance of mules due to the steep terrain. Farming follows organic and biodynamic principles, reflecting the estate’s long commitment to low-intervention viticulture in this rugged Atlantic-influenced corner of northwest Spain.
The Wine
The 2023 Corullón is a village-level expression of Mencía sourced from a selection of roughly 90 small parcels surrounding the village. Fruit is harvested manually, carefully sorted, and destemmed before a long maceration of about 25 days in oak fermenters with regular punch-downs. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with native yeasts, and the wine is bottled without fining or filtration. Aging takes place in previously used French oak vessels—including barrels, larger bocoyes, and foudres—many of which previously held earlier vintages of Corullón or briefly aged the estate’s Pétalos wine. The resulting style is restrained and structured rather than overtly fruit-driven, showing lifted red berry notes layered with spice, mineral tones, and a faint smoky reduction that underscores the schist soils. The palate carries weight yet remains light on its feet, with fine tannins and a stony, mineral edge that gives the wine both precision and longevity.
The People
This wine is produced by Descendientes de J. Palacios, the project founded in 1999 by Álvaro Palacios together with his nephew Ricardo Pérez Palacios. Their work in Bierzo has been instrumental in redefining the potential of Mencía and the steep vineyards surrounding Corullón, shifting the focus from broad regional blends to site-specific expressions of individual villages and crus. By restoring old vineyards, embracing biodynamic farming, and emphasizing gentle cellar practices, the estate has helped establish Bierzo as one of Spain’s most compelling sources for elegant, mineral-driven red wines. The Corullón bottling represents the heart of that philosophy—an intricate mosaic of old-vine parcels that together capture the character of the village itself.
Food Pairing
Lentejas estofadas (Spanish lentil stew with chorizo and smoked paprika).
The wine’s bright acidity keeps the stew from feeling heavy, cutting through the richness of the chorizo while lifting the earthy depth of the lentils. Its red berry fruit adds freshness against the slow-cooked savory flavors, and Mencía’s natural spice and mineral edge echo the smoky paprika and garlic. Rustic, warming, and perfectly suited for a Mencía of this caliber. Recipe on blog.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Castilla y León, a vast region in north-central Spain, is defined by a high-altitude plateau and a continental climate shaped by the Duero River. The region is known primarily for its red wines, with Ribera del Duero leading the charge with powerful Tempranillo-based wines, though Toro and Bierzo also contribute, alongside emerging white wines. On the southern border is the Sierra de Gredos, a separate region within the same broader area, known for its high-altitude vineyards and elegant Grenache (Garnacha) wines. The diverse soils, ranging from alluvial to sandy, clay, and gravel, combined with significant temperature swings between day and night, allow for the slow ripening of grapes, resulting in concentrated flavors and good acidity.
