92+ 2006 Pétalos Bierzo (Descendientes de J. Palacios) 12/9/12 ($20)
100% Mencia 14% alc
Color: Deep black cherry. (3.0) Bouquet: Precise papaya, black cherry and guava with hints of game and smoke. Very aromatic. (3.5) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent fruit and acidity. Rich, tangy mouthfeel. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet with lively minerality. (3.5) Finish: Long. Not as expressive initially, but just when you think it's fading away, it repeats on you. Minerals and musty old vines linger. (3.0)
Overall: This is ready to go with elegance, delicious fruit, Burgundian minerality and old vines complexity. Terrific stuff and an incredible value! Probably at its best right now, but should hold and possibly get more complex in the next few years. Tastes a lot like Burgundy. I wish the last few vintages of this ('08-'10) tasted as good as this.(16.0)
Note: Drank this a year later 12/13 and it just continued to get better as the fruit becomes more musky and mature. Gave it 93 points.
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