Vanessa

9.2

🍷This wine comes from the steep, south-facing slopes of a historic vineyard called Las Lamas—a Viña Clasificada within Corullón, Bierzo.

🇪🇸 The “Viña Clasificada” designation in Spain is akin to a “Cru” designation in Burgundy and is fitting for this particular wine, which hails from a celebrated single-vineyard site that showcases the beauty and distinctive qualities of this particular place.

🕰️ This classification departs from Spain’s historical focus on appellation (e.g., Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Bierzo) and aging categories (e.g., Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva).

🌿 Las Lamas sits at a high altitude, above slate and clay soils, and is made with fruit of old-vine Mencía by the legendary Descendientes de J. Palacios (DJP).

👌In the glass, this wine had a wonderful structure to age. We opened this bottle in its infancy (something we do from time-to-time out of excitement). 😆

☝️ Not to mention, we truly enjoy visiting and revisiting great wines at all stages of their life, even in their youth.

🍒 Right now, this wine is deliciously pure in its fruit expression with an old soul that emerges as it opens. After decanting, we were greeted with gloriously dark cherry, pomegranate, and berry notes next to tar, rose, spice cake, vanilla, black licorice, cacao, and savory elements.

😋 The palate had sweeter characteristics, though the wine was fully dry. Its acidity was fresh, giving a firm backbone, and its tannins were refined, leaving a lingering presence on the finish.

👏 With time, we imagine it would evolve marvelously to develop layers and enhanced aromatic complexity. — 8 days ago

with Deked1

James Everhart

9.1

Excellent fruit and balance $23 — 3 years ago

Jordi Pazo

9.0

Vila. Cata Bierzo. 140,00
19.03.18 — 9 years ago

Jordi Farre

9.0

Gran Bierzo, fruita roja madura, acidesa correcta, entrada correcta i gust llarg. Un punt eixut al final, amb la fusta molt ben posada. — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See my previous note in February 2026. Very similar to now. This is fulsome and savoury at once - black cherry and raspberry. Very easy to like. Like a hypothetical blend of Syrah and Merlot. The herbal savouriness of Syrah with the softness of a supple Merlot. Made by Alvaro Palacios. Love the flamboyant Spanish label. — 3 months ago

Stu

9.2

Charrúa in madrid — a year ago

Howard Yang

9.8

Best Mencia I have ever had, still with at least a couple of decades ahead, opaque garnet burgundy color with no sign of bricking, from a small century old vineyard, very distinctive nose of menthol, leather, clove, nutmeg, Asian five spices, pot roasted pork, black licorice, cassis and black plum, full body with fresh acidity and velvety tannin after three hours decant, tastes of black cherry, black berry, clove, licorice, espresso, black plum, mocha, and sandalwood, 588 bottles produced with 6 additional magnum. — 6 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.1

Drinking the VILA VINITECA Colleccion 75 Aniversario. A Unique line-up of 28 bottles from Spain from the best winemakers. All wines are from 2007. — 10 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.2

A perfect complement to osso bucco and fish soup! Rich red fruit with good structure - M tannins and M+ acidity. Very enjoyable. — 5 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Kike a jorge b jorge c — 9 months ago

John Van Trijp

10

Yes mister Gutierrez…..you were right — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Medium Ruby in colour. Savoury Earthy Plummy aromas with a touch of barnyard. Earthy plum notes on the palate of medium plus intensity to begin with but faded somewhat after around 40 minutes. Have always loved the Mencia grape from Bierzo and this is proof it can cellar 19 years although it faded a bit - 95 points at the beginning; 92 points at the end. — 7 years ago

with Hugh and Georgina