“In an ideal world, this should be the first wine people drink from Bierzo.” Wine Advocate

Alvaro Palacios Petalos Bierzo 2018

Sale $18.99

Buy 3 or more $17.99

93+ pts Wine Advocate

Let me just put it out there: this is an offer for wines from Bierzo, Spain, made from the Mencia grape... Some of you know what that is... think Raul Perez. For most of you, you are thinking, "Huh? What? Why am I getting this offer?"

Because the wines are flat out delicious, and have much in common with wines I know you enjoy, US Pinot, Burgundy, Chateauneuf du Pape...

The wines here are from Alvaro Palacios, who found fame, and fortune, in the 1990s as one of the pioneers in Priorat. His famed l’Ermita sells for more than $1,200 per bottle! Yes, $1,200 per bottle! Before settling on Priorat to make his mark, Alvaro’s second choice was Bierzo. With money in hand from his Priorat success, he started Descendientes de Jose Palacios in 1998 with his nephew, Ricardo Perez, as winemaker. With time, Alvaro and Ricardo have achieved the same critical and commercial success in Bierzo, with a slew of 96-100 pt wines to their credit and their La Faraona bottling selling for $1195 per bottle! Thankfully, this incredible success also allows them to produce a range of wines at all price points.

Petalos is his entry-level offering. An what an entry-level it is!!!

“Their regional wine achieves unheard of levels of complexity and nuance with the 2018 Pétalos del Bierzo. It's mostly Mencía, but there are other grapes varieties in the vineyards; they estimate about 3% of other reds, Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne, Negreda, etc. and around 4% whites, Valenciana, Jerez and Godello. It matured in barrel for 12 months. This is the wine that showcases the house style and the character of the vintage, which, in this case, is delicate and very much from the zone. There is an aromatic purity and elegance that is very captivating with a faint flinty background, the cherry essence (Mediterranean) and a touch of fern (Atlantic) plus a honeyed twist that shows up after a couple of hours in the glass. It has a silky texture, soft and caressing, with very fine tannins and the faint bitter twist in the finish. In an ideal world, this should be the first wine people drink from Bierzo.”


Or reply. The wine will be available Wednesday in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.