Winemaker Notes
Corullon is an assemblage from old-vine parcels in and around this town. Its combination of generosity and precision makes a case not only for Corullon's special status, but also the superiority of Alvaro's and Ricardo's winemaking.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The village wine 2016 Corullón (which might carry the new category "Vino de Villa" for the 2017 vintage if it's approved by the EU soon enough) was hitting on all cylinders when I tasted it. It had a very clean nose, elegant, insinuating, ethereal, perfumed and subtle, without a trace of excess in any direction. It took time to unfurl its notes of violets, wild herbs and spices. The palate had terrific balance, very refined tannins and subtle, integrated acidity with subdued minerality and a long, dry and almost salty finish. This has to be among the best years for Corullón. There are 20,355 bottles and some larger (and smaller) formats. It was bottled in June 2018.
Rating: 95+ -
Decanter
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. Drinking Window 2017 - 2023
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James Suckling
So expressive on the nose with violets, hibiscus, cloves and cinnamon. A great combination of richness and freshness on the medium-bodied palate, the gentle tannins supporting the long finish beautifully. Barrel sample.
Range: 93-94
Primarily found in the Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras regions of Spain and in the Dão of Portugal (where it is called Jaen), Mencia is an early ripening, low acid grape that can produce wines of great concentration, complexity and ageability. And yet Mencia once suffered from a poor reputation and deemed capable of producing simple and light red wines. Post-phylloxera growers would grow this variety on low, fertile plains, which produced high yields and uncomplicated finished wines. Somm Secret—The recent rediscovery of the ancient, abandoned vines planted on rugged hillsides of deep schist has unveiled the potential of Mencia and added discredit to its old reputation.
One of the few northwestern Spanish regions with a focus on a red variety, Bierzo, part of Castilla y León, is home to the flowery and fruity Mencia grape. Mencia produces balanced and bright red wines full of strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, baking spice, pepper and black licorice. The well-drained soils of Bierzo are slate and granite.