2022 Descendientes de J. Palacios Moncerbal

Tank sample. 95% Mencía, 5% white grapes – Jerez (Palomino Fino). A Vino de Paraje from the single 2.1-ha vineyard of Moncerbal in the village of Corull ón. Yield 25 hl/ha. 6,100 bottles produced. From predominantly slate soils, this is much tighter on the palate than the Villa de Corullón with plenty of mineral notes evident. Black-fruit character, restrained and elegant. This has less of a plush, velvet-cushion feel but is destined to age very well. (AWH)

The bottled 2022 Moncerbal was produced with 95% Mencía and 5% Palomino (locally called Jerez) from six plots that total 2.61 hectares of vines at 610 to 730 meters in altitude that matured in oak foudres for eight months. The vines from Moncerbal really suffered in 2022; it's a stony and shallow place that might get blocked in warmer years. The wine doesn't transmit any heat and has managed to keep the freshness, but it suffers in comparison with the 2022 Las Lamas and especially with the 2023 Moncerbal, which could be the finest Moncerbal in the making... 6,480 bottles, 138 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in August 2023. All the 2022s are around 13.5% alcohol.

Tank sample. 95% Mencía, 5% white grapes – Jerez (Palomino Fino). A Vino de Paraje from the single 2.1-ha vineyard of Moncerbal in the village of Corullón. Yield 25 hl/ha. 6,100 bottles produced. From predominantly slate soils, this is much tighter on the palate than the Villa de Corullón with plenty of mineral notes evident. Black-fruit character, restrained and elegant. This has less of a plush, velvet-cushion feel but is destined to age very well. (AWH)