2018 Petalos del Bierzo D.O.

Decanter - 95

A seamless, refreshing wine pulsating with dark fruit and black cherry flavours that are very well balanced with the oak and refined acid line. Nothing pokes through or dominates. Serious, long, engaging. Will develop further.

Robert Parker - 93+

Their regional wine achieves unheard of levels of complexity and nuance with the 2018 Pétalos del Bierzo. It's a blend from over 90 hectares of vineyards in different part of Bierzo, 20% of the grapes from their own vineyards in Corullón, including some 4% white grapes. The rest is purchased from 180+ families with whom they have a long-term relationship. Some of these vineyards are not yet certified organic, but the objective is to achieve it in the next five years. 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, half from Corullón and the other half from other villages. The grapes were partly destemmed and fermented in open-top stainless steel and oak vats with 25 days of maceration where the wine underwent a slow three-month malolactic. 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, and fortunately, in many cases, it is, given the availability, even if they did a more severe selection. This is approachable now but would be better in one year, and it's going to live in bottle. 282,038 bottles and 2,500 magnums produced. It was bottled between December 2019 and January 2020.

James Suckling - 93

Pretty nose of ripe cherries, strawberries, bitter chocolate, caramelized hazelnuts, lavender, peppercorns and sweet spices. Medium-bodied with sleek tannins and fresh acidity. Juicy and flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Vinous - 92

Dark, bright-rimmed ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented dark berry and floral scents show fine clarity and a complementary hint of candied licorice. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering gently sweet boysenberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors and a spicy touch of white pepper. The mineral quality repeats on a very long, penetrating finish that leaves sweet blue fruit and spicecake notes behind.

DinVinGuide - 92

Vin på mencia druen fra Bierzo. Meget frugtig, elegant og umiddelbar i udtrykket med solmodne røde bær, krydderier og strejf vanilje. Meget imødekommende med en krydret kompleks afslutning. Yderst flot vin.

Jyllands Posten - ★★★★★

Krydret, markant, ganske let, elegant med en meget sund frugt. Perfekt til lammet og et godt køb til tilbudsprisen.