Descendientes de J. Palacios Las Lamas 2023

Las Lamas is a 1.6-hectare plot located in Corullón, in Bierzo, in north-western Castile and León. Facing due south, it stands out from the village's other crus for its more clay-rich soils, richer in organic matter: the cool nights cool the earth less here, ensuring even ripening of the grapes and giving more generous wines. It is a terroir that shines particularly in hot years.

The vines are farmed organically and biodynamically. The hand-harvested grapes are partially destemmed and then ferment with native yeasts in wooden vats, over a long maceration. Malolactic fermentation takes place spontaneously in wood, then the wine is aged for around ten months in foudres and large casks, before being bottled without fining or filtration.

This wine reveals notes of dried rose, raspberry, blackberry, white flowers, white pepper, sweet spices, toasted sesame and medicinal herbs. Silky, elegant and tender, the palate offers volume and fine, slightly powdery tannins. The long, coherent and persistent finish reveals great ageing potential.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.