Located in the northwestern province of Leon, El Bierzo is a DO that shares a border with Galicia and specializes in this distinctive red grape believed to have been brought by French pilgrims during the Middle Ages. Much of Bierzo’s Mencia has been unremarkable and a little rubbery, but you can rely on Alvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo to make something special. Pétalos is made exclusively with high elevation, old-vine, hand-picked biodynamic fruit from the best hilltop plots of western Bierzo. The wine is aged in new French oak for a few weeks followed by 6-10 months in old barrels for a wine with moderate alcohol and a mouthful of herbs, juicy black fruit, a touch of smoked meat, and elegant tannins. Pair with BBQ, grilled foods, steaks, shawarma and babaganoush.
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