Al Chelo 2023

Descendientes de J. Palacios is the Bierzo estate of Alvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo Perez Palacios, in Castilla y Leon. Al Chelo comes from a single named plot and is built on Mencia, the region's red grape, with a little white interplanted in the old-vine field blend. The vineyards sit on steep slate slopes under a climate where Atlantic and continental influences meet, the broken slate giving good drainage and a mineral signature while the altitude keeps nights cool and the wines fresh and fragrant. Vinification is gentle, with a soft extraction to preserve Mencia's bright fruit and floral character, and short ageing in barrel to settle the wine and add a light frame rather than heavy oak. The colour is bright ruby. The nose shows fresh cherry and strawberry with a floral lift and a subtle, warming touch of oak. The palate is light and fragrant, with red fruit, fine tannins and a mineral, slightly peppery freshness from the slate running to a clean finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, lightly chilled if you like. It suits poultry, pork and lighter meat dishes.