Corullón 2025

Descendientes de J. Palacios was founded in 1999 by Álvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo, drawn to the Mencía grape and the steep slopes of the western Bierzo. Corullón is the estate village wine, sourced from old Mencía planted on the slate soils that ring Villafranca del Bierzo, in León. The vineyards are farmed organically, without synthetic pesticides or herbicides, and the slate fractures and retains daytime heat while the surrounding mountains drive a wide diurnal swing that holds acidity and aromatic lift through ripening. The wine ferments and then spends 14 months in used French oak, a vessel chosen for slow controlled oxygen exchange that knits the tannins without layering on heavy toast. The result is deep ruby in the glass, with a nose of blackberry and darker red fruit framed by a stony graphite character that reads straight off the slate. The palate is structured and savoury, with firm fine tannins, fresh acidity and a mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and earthy mushroom dishes.