91 - tasted feb 2012
Absolutely fantastic wine. Very distinct nose, which I can't quite pinpoint but there's certainly some blackberry and some minerality. Very long and smooth finish, but decanting makes a huge difference in this one. I tried it after 1 hour of decanting and it was much smoother than when poured directly from the bottle.

A wine that impresses as much for its balance as anything else. Nothing is out of place. The oak is in perfect balance (actually, quite in the background), the tannin is firm but not obtrusive, the dark, spicy fruit is ripe but not over the top. There is subtle unusual flavour (licorice?) that is quite pleasant and gives this mencia a distinctive character. Well-worthy of the $24 price tag. I think this will show ever better in a couple of years. Tasted Aug 2013.

Quite nice. Needs decanting, but this is well worth it. Unique.

grippy tannins but not drying for sure, earthy, cherry fruit, somewhat rioja-like but distinctively different, really long-lasting finish, nice overall and outstanding for the price! Szabo is right on in his rating

This Spanish wine is not to be missed. Its edgy, delicate and complicated all at once. When I popped the cork, all I could hear is Freddy Mercury singing “Barcelona”. Suck this back with your favorite Queen and a chunk of Manchego cheese. Can you do the Fandago?

The 2009 Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos, made from the Mencia grape (also known as Jaen in Portugal) ranked #26 on the 2011 Wine Spectator Top 100 wines. It is light to medium bodied, fruity wine with nice aromas of red currant, cherry, toasted oak and hints of fresh coffee fruit and prune as well as strawberry that emerges quite late. It has refined tannins (decant for 1 hour) and a soft finish of medium length that surprisingly is not alcoholic (as it has 15%). It is still young, cellar for 5-10 years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - with potential to get a higher score in the future. A recommended buy. Tasted Jan/12.

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http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

This wine is made with the lesser known Mencia grape, which is mostly grown in Portugal and Spain. The nose on this wine was very different. It would make for an interesting wine in a blind tasting with aromas of wild berry, strawberry, minerals, mushrooms, tobacco leaves and floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied but even with alcohol at 15%/ A well balanced wine with rich red fruit flavours, refreshing acidity and silky tannins. Very good length on the finish with spicy red fruit flavours, smoky notes and fine tannins lingering. A very interesting wine to be sure, but it works.

Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Earthy wine featuring mushrooms, twigs, leather, plums, dried foliage, tobacco leaves, sage, blackberries, wild berries, oak & cherry cough syrup. Medium to medium+ body & tannins with good acidity, extremely long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Not sure about the cherry cough syrup notes.

Drink now or for the next 5 years on its own or with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 8 Feb 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5