Descendientes de Jose Palacios : Las Lamas 2023

Tasting notes and characteristics of the Las Lamas 2023 cuvée from Descendientes de Jose Palacios

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a deep red color with garnet highlights.

Nose
The nose reveals a complex bouquet of black fruits such as blackberry and plum, complemented by floral notes and sweet spices.

Palate
On the palate, this wine shows a powerful, contemplative structure, expressing the full richness of its slate terroir, with a lingering, mineral finish.

Food and wine pairing

This characterful red wine pairs beautifully with grilled red meats, game birds, and aged cheeses. It also goes very well with slow-cooked dishes featuring wild mushrooms.

Serving and cellaring

Las Lamas 2023 is best enjoyed after at least one hour of decanting before serving. The recommended serving temperature is between 60.8 and 64.4°F. This wine has significant aging potential and can be cellared until around 2043.

A powerful, contemplative Castile and León wine by Descendientes de Jose Palacios

Estate

Descendientes de J. Palacios is the story of a family enterprise founded by Álvaro Palacios—an eminent figure behind the wine revolution Spain has experienced over the past twenty years—and his nephew, Ricardo Pérez. Named after Álvaro’s father and Ricardo’s grandfather, who passed away in 2000, the bodega Descendientes de Jose Palacios was established near the village of Villafranca del Bierzo, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain.

Vineyard

The Las Lamas vineyard covers 1.6 hectares of selected plots in the Corullón area, at the heart of the Bierzo appellation. Facing due south on very steep slopes, the vines grow between 670 and 730 meters above sea level on Paleozoic laminated slate soils dominated by clay. These oxidized chlorite schists reveal the orange, yellow, and red hues characteristic of this area, to a depth of only 45 centimeters.

Winemaking and aging

Vinification takes place in oak vats, with regular punch-downs and the use of native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation starts spontaneously in the same oak vat, after which the wine is aged in foudres and barrels.  

Grape varieties

The blend consists of 97% Mencía, complemented by 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% white variety (Jerez).