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. — 25 days ago

with Deked1

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

Donald Williams

9.5

Don’t see this varietal on a restaurant menu very often, so I grabbed it. Great choice. With rack of lamb and braised beef short ribs, it was truly wonderful. — 8 months ago

with Bonnie

Sébastien F

9.1

C'est bon! Efficace appétant — a year ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Extremely earthy. Aromas and flavors of red and black fruits with hints of smoke, black licorice and roasted mint leaves. Just a touch of Brett. Really dense (including the color) and concentrated. Fine tannins. Rustic but elegant. Thanks a mark B. — 4 years ago

Alan Goldberg

9.2

Juicy, red, and delicious. — 5 years ago

Kyle Davidson

9.4

Burgundian, structured tannin that softens as the bottle goes down, earth and savory on the nose, bright fruit on the palate. Kind of a perfect wine I feel it could be all things to all people. — 13 days ago

Neil Schlecht

9.3

Raul Pérez rarely misfires. Yummy godello/dona blanca blend. — 4 months ago

with Sharon

Donald Williams

9.4

One of our favorite Spanish reds. — 5 months ago

with Bonnie

Steve Anderson

9.2

Enjoyed this — 2 years ago

Stu

9.2

Charrúa in madrid — a year ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.1

Heavy on nose. Green vegetables. Pretty on the palate. 2021 — 3 years ago

Nicole K

9.1

Loved it with my meatloaf and cheese. Red fruit + chocolate. Very drinkable. Had on flight from Zurich to JFK after nick’s wedding — 5 years ago

Taavi Davies

9.1

Dark red fruit, spices, herbs and lots of tannin — at Quinta da Auga — 3 months 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. — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A nice Mencia from Bierzo, Ruby red color, purple hues, with aromas of juicy red fruits, spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of cherry, tart strawberry and cranberry, with spice and gentle oak notes, very Rhône-like. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy character. Nice! — 8 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2020 | good acidity, fat wine with a lot of vanilla/wood — 9 months ago

Ericsson

9.1

The Godello craze in Spain and elsewhere is real. So is the wine itself. — 2 years ago

Bart Bartlett

9.0

Excellent dark cherry notes that give way to a peppery middle and a nice earthy finish. — 5 years ago

with Jennifer

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

8.9

A bit fleshier than previous vintages. The move to less new oak and less time in oak seems focus the wines here a bit, but the house style of nearly opulent dark fruit remains. — 6 years ago