Bierzo
If anyone embodies the promise and spirit of “The New Spain,” it’s Alvaro Palacios. His L’Ermita is widely considered—along with Peter Sisseck’s Dominio de Pingus—to be the most important Spanish wine of the modern era. The influence that Alvaro Palacios has had on Spanish winemaking can hardly be measured. Not only has he been an important point of reference for up-and-coming winemakers throughout Spain; he pioneered the two highly important regions of Priorat and Bierzo. Named Decanter’s 2015 Man of the Year and the Institute of Masters of Wine 2016 Winemaker of the Year, there is no shortage of accolades for Alvaro Palacios!
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Las Lamas
| SKU | 103750 |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Bierzo |
| Type | Red |
| Varietal | Mencia |
| Listing | Specialty |
| Case Config. | 6x750ml |
| Available In | BC |
Colour
Brilliant violet.
Aroma
A hugely perfumed and complex bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, candied flowers, exotic spice, licorice and smoky minerals.
Flavour
Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering densely packed black raspberry, cherry liqueur, spice-cake and lavender flavors that show outstanding delineation and back-end power. The mineral and floral notes drive an extremely long, energetic finish.
Food Pairing
Try this with a peppercorn steak, Portuguese blood sausage or with barbeque dijon rack of lamb.
More Info
Bierzo's principal grape is the obscure, indigenous red variety Mencía. While Bierzo is a relatively new wine appellation (a DO since 1989), it has a wealth of very old vines, planted on extremely steep hillsides, and in this respect it much resembles the Priorat region.
Alvaro Palacios, with his nephew Ricardo Perez (who also spent time in Bordeaux), established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo.Palacios and his nephew, Ricardo Perez, established Descendientes de J. Palacios in 1998 in the village of Villafranca del Bierzo. The winery is dedicated to Alvaro’s father, and Ricardo’s grandfather, who passed away in early 2000. The wines are a worthy tribute to the man who inspired them.
Jeb Dunnuck, Jan/2026
2024 -
"From Mencia, Alicante Bouschet, and Jerez grown in clay soils, the opposite of the Moncerbal, the 2024 Las Lamas is round, explosive, slatey, and lengthy. It has impressive texture and grip, with a slightly reductive quality while still in barrel. There’s grip and intensity, but so much brightness in the black fruit and peppery spice of the wine, buoyant in underlying acidity. This will be a blockbuster wine on release." - Virginie Boone
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jul/2025
2024 -
"The sample of the 2024 Las Lamas was very fine, even sharp, here the effect of the year. It comes from the seven plots they own that were made into a single vineyard in 2017, 1.6 hectares in Corullón. It's 94% Mencía and 3% each Alicante Bouschet and Jerez, fermented with partially destemmed grapes in oak vats with a maceration time of 40 days. It finished with 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.75. As I wrote in the note for the 2024 Moncerbal, 2024 is a vintage where Moncerbal is more Las Lamas and Las Lamas is more Moncerbal. Meaning that this wine has a lot of finesse and is crystalline and pure. This could be one of those (rare) years when I like Las Lamas more than Moncerbal. Today I prefer it. But it's still too early. The answer, next year..." - Luis Gutíerrez
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jun/2024
2023 -
"The unbottled sample of the 2023 Las Lamas is stunning. It comes from the 1.6 hectares they have in a single vineyard since they bought a last plot in 2017. It fermented with some full clusters in oak vats and was aging in foudre and large barrels when I tasted it. It has the austerity of the 2023s, which is remarkable for a warm year, and the balance that Las Lamas can have in dry years. But 2023 was not as extreme as 2022 was, and the competence from the 2023 Moncerbal was tough. It's more austere than the 2022 Las Lamas, consistent with the rest of the 2023s."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jul/2025
2023 -
"The bottled 2023 Las Lamas is also stunning. But it's a vineyard that shines more in warm years, when it surpasses Moncerbal (like in 2022); in a cooler year, it suffers a bit more, while Moncerbal thrives. It comes from the 1.6 hectares they have in a single vineyard (they bought a last plot in 2017). It fermented with some full clusters in oak vats and matured in foudre and large barrels for 10.6 months. It comes in at 13% alcohol and with a pH of 3.61. It has the austerity of the 2023s, which is remarkable for a warmish year, and the balance that Las Lamas can have in dry years. But 2023 was not as extreme as 2022 was, and the competition from the 2023 Moncerbal was tough. It's more austere than the 2022 Las Lamas, consistent with the rest of the 2023s. 5,980 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2025." - Luis Gutíerrez
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Sept/2025
2023 -
"The 2023 Las Lamas was crafted from Mencía in Corullón, Bierzo. It begins with pomegranate, violet and rose aromas, accompanied by a touch of cherry. Subtle oak contributes nuances on both the nose and palate. This is medium-bodied in feel, with a talc-like texture and fine tannins that build structure. Its appeal lies in the layered intensity of aromas and flavors, with a slate-driven feel that is less typical of Bierzo but core to Corullón’s identity." - Joaquín Hidalgo
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jun/2024
2022 -
"I love the bottled 2022 Las Lamas, from the 1.6 hectares of vines in seven plots that are all together since they bought the last plot in 2017. Las Lamas behaves better in dry conditions, as it has more clay in the slate soils and retains water better. It was produced with 92% Mencía and up to 8% of white grapes, and the wine shows perfumed, elegant and balanced. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and 49 days of maceration and matured in French oak barrels and foudres for eight months. It's aromatic and spicy with notes of rosemary, sage and white pepper, tasty and showy. This is elegant and seems to have the austerity of a very balanced vintage; it's very complete, with a medium-bodied palate, 13.5% alcohol and very stony tannins. 7,107 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in November 2023."
James Suckling, Nov/2024
2022 -
No. 66 JAMES SUCKLING'S TOP 100 WINES OF SPAIN 2024 "Intense and nervy nose that shows focus, ripeness and complexity. Reductive and almost ferric, with white pepper, glossy red berries, grapefruit, mezcal and blood oranges. Precise, with structure and juicy fruit. There is mineral tension throughout, supported with a touch of fine but powerful tannins. Really long and precise. Drink from 2025." - Zekun Shuai
Falstaff, Mar/2026
2022 -
"Fresh, dark wild berry fruit on the nose. Floral notes and a mineral impression. Elegant and juicy on the palate, with chalky tannins and licorice on the long, balsamic-spicy finish." - Dominik Vombach
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Aug/2023
2022 -
"Right now, I prefer the 2022 Las Lamas to the Moncerbal from this same vintage. Moncerbal is the place that suffers more from the draught and heat, as it's very rocky and has less organic matter, less water retention, while the Las Lamas has more resources to fight lack of water and high temperatures through the higher content of clay. This is expressive, perfumed and elegant, quite Lamas."
Decanter, Mar/2023
2022 -
"They call Las Llamas a ‘vino de montaña’ – mountain wine – with vines growing at up to 700m on clay soils. The overall effect is sumptuous: even in its youth it jumps from the glass offering cranberries and redcurrants. The entry to the mouth is smooth, supple and rounded, exploding with the flavours promised by the aromatics. The finish is clean, with firm tannin layered with freshness. From year to year my preference changes between Moncerbal and Las Llamas. This year Las Llamas is definitely on top. Watch it as it ages beautifully. Gran Viña Classificada. 6,930 bottles produced."
James Suckling, May/2023
2021 -
"Delineated, precise and elegant berries with subtle white pepper funk, mineral and white sesame characters make this so attractive. Nimble and almost “Atlantic” with fresh, tangy fruit that follows through to a textured, medium-bodied palate full of silky, mineral-textured tannins. The long, even and cohesive finish is persistent and ethereal. From organically grown grapes. Delicious now, but don’t underestimate its potential for aging, as balance is the key."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Aug/2023
2021 -
"The bottled 2021 Las Lamas started a little closed and took some time to unfurl in the glass. It developed some medicinal notes, hints of dry roses and spices with fine but slightly dusty tannins, not as refined as those from Moncerbal. It develops further notes with more time in the glass, white flowers. There's more clay here and more organic matter than in Moncerbal, so the cooler nights don't manage to cool the soil down; the grapes have a more steady ripeness, and the wines are a little more generous. 3,752 bottles, 86 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in January 2023."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jun/2022
2021 -
"The 2021 Las Lamas had notes of herbs and curry; it was aromatic and represented quite faithfully the character of the place, a little more exotic. 2021 seems to be a very transparent vintage when the wines show the character of the place through contained ripeness and a little more austerity. This has 13.4% alcohol and a pH of 3.6. It has a medium-bodied palate with some tannins but with a very developed and aromatic nose, which seems to be the character of the year."
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Feb/2025
2021 -
"The 2021 Las Lamas is Mencía and others from Corullón, Bierzo. Deep garnet in hue, it reflects slightly riper harvest decisions compared to other wines from the producer. Pomegranate tones come across as jammy, combined with plum. Broad and slightly plush, its fine-grained tannins provide structure without being restrictive. It is long, finishing with ripe fruit and moderate juiciness." - Joaquín Hidalgo
James Suckling, Aug/2022
2020 -
#22 Top 100 Wines of Spain 2022. "A Bierzo with great depth and soft-spoken complexity, but still upbeat, effusing a mineral twist to the smoked herbs, iron, raw meat, black cherries, blueberries, dried botanicals, violets and slate. Medium to full body with an ethereal and layered mid-palate that leads to a super-long, lingering finish. The tannins are so dusty and polished. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better after 2024."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jan/2022
2020 -
"This is always the ripest of the wines, and in 2020 it's no exception: the 2020 Las Lamas is 14.5% alcohol. But what's important is that it doesn't show—it doesn't feel ripe or warm. In fact, this feels fresher and more harmonious and lively than the Moncerbal; it DOES need ripeness. It's very expressive and very Lamas, more Mediterranean and really what it is. It's juicy and peachy, very velvety, with round and glossy tannins but without being heavy. It's very balanced and shows a certain freshness, but it's a rich wine. It's now certified organic. 6,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2021 in a break from the long 2021 harvest."
Decanter, Jul/2021
2020 -
"A memorable wine that holds you firmly in its grip and hugs you tight. There’s layers of character here: graphite for sure, succulent plums certainly, a fresh zip of acidity and then the firm tannin of 2020. Best to wait: this will blossom with time in the cellar, and then decanting."
Wine Spectator, Oct/2023
2020 -
"Fresh and silky, this focused version shows flavors of baked black raspberry, red licorice and cocoa powder that glide across the palate."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jul/2021
2019 -
"The grapes used for the 2019 Las Lamas come from a selection of 1.75 hectares they own in the paraje in the village of Corullón, not far from the winery that gives this wine its name. This is a south-facing location with a tendency to good ripeness and generous wines. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in a combination of oak barrels and foudres for eight months. This is the prototype of a wine from clay-rich soils; it's round and vinous, refreshed by the altitude and the slate. This is more lactic than the Moncerbal, very classical and with fine but grainy tannins. Whatever it is, with years in bottle, this is more vinous and rounder and the Moncerbal is sharper. 5,520 bottles, 118 magnums and some larger formats produced."
James Suckling, Oct/2021
2019 -
"This is very structured and long with fantastic tannin intensity and balance. It’s very long – almost endless. Medium to full body. Goes on for minutes. Tight at the end. Lots of energy and focus. Needs four or five years to come together."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jun/2020
2018 -
"I always like to compare the 2018 Las Lamas with the Moncerbal (and the others!) from the same vintage, as they are very close together and very similar, just a change in orientation, which, in this part of Bierzo, can mean huge differences. And it's often down to the harvest date, as the Mencía grape has a very short window of perfect ripening, and one day too early can be too early and one day too late ... well, too late! This comes from seven plots in the same place, the last one purchased in 2017 and totaling 2.13 hectares. They have requested the new classification of Gran Viña Clasificada in the new categories approved by the appellation Bierzo. This is a place with lots of light and a tendency toward intense ripeness, creating a more voluptuous wine. Besides Mencía, the vines have around 7% white grapes, mostly Jerez (Palomino) and 3% Alicante Bouschet or Garnacha Tintorera. They are in the process of certifying all their vineyards, and most probably the 2020 vintage will be able to carry the organic label. The natural fermentation was carried out in oak vats, and the maceration lasted 65 days. The élevage was in a combination of oak containers of different sizes and lasted for 11 months. This is a really impressive effort and showcases the generosity (in a Pomerol sense of the word) of this place; it's silky, elegant and tender but with more volume than the Moncerbal. I think this vintage is very transparent (or their interpretation has been), and each of the wines shows its personality, transcending the style of the year, like the year was more transparent. 3,097 bottles and some larger formats were filled in January 2020."
James Suckling, Sep/2021
2018 -
#40 Top 100 Wines of Spain 2021. "Wild raspberries, plum stones, nutmeg, licorice, cracked pepper and dried lemon on the nose. Medium-bodied with silky tannins and vibrant acidity. Layered and evolving, with a vibrant core of fresh-fruit, mineral and spicy-pepper notes. Long and delicious. Drink now or hold."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Feb/2019
2017 -
"If I found citrus aromas in the nose of Valdafoz, the 2017 Las Lamas had incredible notes of tangerine and blood orange with an herbal twist I more often find in Moncerbal. The palate was all silk, round and integrated, really approachable. I tasted from a 1,200-liter oval oak foudre. This looks really promising, from a vineyard that has been singing in the last five years or so."
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Jun/2021
2017 -
"Glistening ruby-red. An expansive, highly perfumed bouquet features an array of red and blue fruit, floral and exotic spice qualities, along with suggestions of cola and smoky minerals. Deeply concentrated yet energetic as well, offering palate-staining cherry, black raspberry and boysenberry flavors and candied lavender and five-spice flourishes. The red fruit note resonates emphatically on the strikingly persistent finish, which features polished tannins and a lingering floral nuance."
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Feb/2019
2016 -
"They hit the nail on the head with the harvest date of the 2016 Las Lamas, and the wine shows incredible precision, elegance and symmetry this year. I've often discussed with Ricardo Perez Palacios how sensitive Mencia is with the harvest date and how the grape has a very short picking window, to the point that, in 2016, you feel one day difference. They have been fine-tuning this wine in the last few years, and the result is evident. 3,655 bottles and some larger bottles were filled in June 2018."
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Feb/2019
2016 -
"Brilliant violet color. A hugely perfumed and complex bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, candied flowers, exotic spice, licorice and smoky minerals. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering densely packed black raspberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and lavender flavors that show outstanding delineation and back-end power. The mineral and floral notes drive an extremely long, energetic finish that leaves an alluring dark berry preserve note behind."
Decanter Magazine, Mar/2017
2016 -
"Gloriously floral with violets on the nose. A supple, silky entry; superbly fresh, almost crunchy with rosy plums. It drives through to a savoury, intense finish. Powerful. The partner vineyard to Moncerbal, at 800 metres; the clay in the soil builds the weight."