Friday Sips
FRIDAY SIPS
The Gods of Bierzo
Today January 26 from 1:30 - 6:30
The Gods of Bierzo
Today January 26 from 1:30 - 6:30
Join us today as we explore Spain’s Bierzo region by sampling wines from its two most revered producers J. Palacios and Raul Perez. We will have an entry level wine open along with a top selection from each to show stylistic and terroir differences. Come in for some tasty red wines that are all highly touted with stunning accolades (92, 93 95 pts.) and are full of character.
2015 DECENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS
BIERZO 'PETALOS'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
BIERZO 'PETALOS'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
After all these years of featuring this super expressive wine, it is amazing that we are still able to sell it for a mere 20 bucks. Like Raul Perez whose wines are also featured, not much needs to be said when it comes to the influence that Riccardo and Alvaro Palacios have stamped on this stunning Spanish wine region. Petalos is always a winner and in 2015 it soars once again.
‘The entry level 2015 Petalos del Bierzo, their regional wine, in the new official category that will start working in the appellation from the 2017 vintage, a blend of many different vineyards planted with field blends, where the breakdown might come to some 5% white varieties (Valenciana/Dona Blanca, Godello and Palomino/Jerez) and around 1% other reds (Pan y Carne, Negrada and Gran Negro), all from vines ranging between 40 and 90 years of age on slopes (half of the grapes around the village of Corullon and the remainder in the rest of Bierzo). It's a showy, approachable, aromatic and open version of Petalos, and as I tasted it later on in the season, it felt more polished and round, with a lush texture. It's extremely aromatic, in a way similar to the 2012. This is always one of the best values not only of Bierzo but for the whole of Spain. – 92 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE’
‘The entry level 2015 Petalos del Bierzo, their regional wine, in the new official category that will start working in the appellation from the 2017 vintage, a blend of many different vineyards planted with field blends, where the breakdown might come to some 5% white varieties (Valenciana/Dona Blanca, Godello and Palomino/Jerez) and around 1% other reds (Pan y Carne, Negrada and Gran Negro), all from vines ranging between 40 and 90 years of age on slopes (half of the grapes around the village of Corullon and the remainder in the rest of Bierzo). It's a showy, approachable, aromatic and open version of Petalos, and as I tasted it later on in the season, it felt more polished and round, with a lush texture. It's extremely aromatic, in a way similar to the 2012. This is always one of the best values not only of Bierzo but for the whole of Spain. – 92 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE’
2015 RAUL PEREZ BIERZO
'ULTREIA SAINT-JACQUES'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'ULTREIA SAINT-JACQUES'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
One of the real good guys in the wine world and along with the Palacios family, Raul Perez has been a force since the initial explosion of Bierzo nearly 20 years ago. He is not only a generous soul; he is also one of the leaders for change in the area, leading to better focus on terroir with the Mencia grape.
‘The 2015 Ultreia St Jacques is the entry-level red for the Ultreia range and is amazingly good for the price. Produced from old vines, this is a serious wine, with juicy fruit, a fine palate and good freshness for the conditions of the year. They have included new vineyards that they have been working for the last four or five years, so they are able to bottle a little bit more wine. This is a great value....Raul Pérez should need no introduction by now. With a clear focus on terroir, the wines are often named after the places or vineyards where the grapes come from, and the range is very wide. He has changed U.S. importer, and the prices in the states have seen a significant decrease. – 93 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’
‘The 2015 Ultreia St Jacques is the entry-level red for the Ultreia range and is amazingly good for the price. Produced from old vines, this is a serious wine, with juicy fruit, a fine palate and good freshness for the conditions of the year. They have included new vineyards that they have been working for the last four or five years, so they are able to bottle a little bit more wine. This is a great value....Raul Pérez should need no introduction by now. With a clear focus on terroir, the wines are often named after the places or vineyards where the grapes come from, and the range is very wide. He has changed U.S. importer, and the prices in the states have seen a significant decrease. – 93 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’
2014 RAUL PEREZ BIERZO
LA VISCAINA 'LA VITORIA'
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE
LA VISCAINA 'LA VITORIA'
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE
La Viscaina is a relatively new project by Raul Perez that focuses on vineyards near his hometown of Vatuille de Abajo. Planted in 1890 sandy soil at the top; clay and river rocks at the bottom of this steep slope. La Vitoriana is proudly and prominently Mencia although there is a small field blend of varietals blended in and they include Alicante, Bastardo (Trousseau), Garnacha Tintorera, Dona Blanca and Palomino all fermented in whole clusters. The diversity of varietals is present here due to Bierzo being on the Camino de Santiago. Often times, monks on their journey would bring vine clippings as gifts to the various monasteries, hence the various blends within the sites that are predominantly Mencia.
This wine is serious business and has a fat 95-point score from The Wine Advocate. ‘My favorite red of the 2014 vintage was the 2014 La Vizcaina La Vitoriana, which was very expressive, floral and elegant, with filigree and detail. There is a lot of depth in the palate, greatly balanced with very fine tannins and a long, tasty finish. This is the oldest vineyard they have... – 95 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE.’ Drink through 2025+.
This wine is serious business and has a fat 95-point score from The Wine Advocate. ‘My favorite red of the 2014 vintage was the 2014 La Vizcaina La Vitoriana, which was very expressive, floral and elegant, with filigree and detail. There is a lot of depth in the palate, greatly balanced with very fine tannins and a long, tasty finish. This is the oldest vineyard they have... – 95 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE.’ Drink through 2025+.
2014 DECENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS
BIERZO 'CORULLON'
[reg. $53.99]
SPECIAL - $39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
BIERZO 'CORULLON'
[reg. $53.99]
SPECIAL - $39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
The line for this Bierzo starts behind us! Alvaro and Riccardo Palacios's Corullon Bierzo is DEFINITELY going into our private cellars! The Corullon cuvee is from very old vineyards specifically coming from the Grand cru village of Corullon and the resulting wine is packed, stacked and much more serious than the Petalos.
‘Cropped from a cooler vintage and, therefore, with a cooler profile, the village red (vino de villa in the new classification from the 2017 vintage), the 2014 Corullon, felt like a more complete version of 2013, clearly a more Atlantic (cooler) year, with notes of violets, lilies and pomegranate, really expressive, open and aromatic, more focused, precise, clean and with a palate that follows that same line, plus the verticality and minerality added by the slate soils. Hands down, one of the best (if not the best) vintages of Corullon. Bravo! – 95+ POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE.’ Drink through 2030.
‘Cropped from a cooler vintage and, therefore, with a cooler profile, the village red (vino de villa in the new classification from the 2017 vintage), the 2014 Corullon, felt like a more complete version of 2013, clearly a more Atlantic (cooler) year, with notes of violets, lilies and pomegranate, really expressive, open and aromatic, more focused, precise, clean and with a palate that follows that same line, plus the verticality and minerality added by the slate soils. Hands down, one of the best (if not the best) vintages of Corullon. Bravo! – 95+ POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE.’ Drink through 2030.
