Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo Villa de Corullon 2023 375ml
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The Land
Corullon sits on Bierzo's western edge, close enough to Galicia to share its damp, green character rather than the drier plateau further into Castilla y Leon. Villa de Corullon is a village wine built from more than 200 tiny plots scattered across the steepest hillsides here, sites with names like Moncerbal, Las Lamas, San Martin, Fontelas, and Ferro, each at a different elevation and exposure, generally between 500 and 850 meters. The soils are slate and schist, poor and stony, forcing vines to struggle for what they get. It is a fragmented, almost impossible way to farm, and it is exactly what gives this wine its layered complexity.
The Wine
Mostly Mencia, with roughly 6% old, interplanted white varieties, Palomino, Godello, Malvasia, and a few others nobody bothers to separate out at harvest, a field-blend habit that predates the appellation itself. The vines have been farmed organically and biodynamically since the winery's founding in 1999, with organic certification following in 2018. The 2023 vintage in Bierzo followed a mild, dry winter into a cooler growing season with rain right at the start of harvest, producing wines with real freshness and lower, contained alcohol. Expect raspberry and strawberry fruit, violet florals, a touch of dried herb, and the slate minerality that defines Corullon, carried by fresh acidity and fine, well-integrated tannins.
The People
Alvaro Palacios grew up in his family's Rioja winery, Palacios Remondo, studied enology in Bordeaux, and worked under Jean-Pierre Moueix at Chateau Petrus before moving to Priorat in 1989 at 25, where he is credited with reviving the region and creating L'Ermita, one of Spain's most sought-after wines. In 1999 he partnered with his nephew, Ricardo Perez Palacios, to found Descendientes de J. Palacios in Corullon, a project named for and dedicated to Alvaro's father and grandfather. Ricardo runs the day-to-day winemaking in Bierzo while Alvaro splits his time between this project, Priorat, and Rioja. Villa de Corullon is their attempt to bottle the whole village at once rather than isolate a single vineyard.
Food Pairing
Mencia is sometimes called the Pinot Noir of Spain, and it eats the same way: think grilled octopus with paprika, Spanish chorizo, roast pork shoulder, or a mushroom and chestnut stew. Its fresh acidity and fine tannins make it a natural with fattier cuts and umami-heavy dishes without ever feeling heavy. Poured from a 375ml bottle, it is a convenient way to bring a serious Bierzo red to a smaller dinner without opening a full bottle.
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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.
