Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.
Rating: 97+ -
Vinous
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. Barrel Sample: 94-96
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Decanter
The Las Lamas vineyard sits on a steep slope below the winery and has a greater amount of clay in the slate soil. I usually prefer Las Lamas to Moncerbal, but in this more difficult vintage, Moncerbal shows more charm. Tasted en primeur, it's powerful, with punchy freshness and a savoury, almost saline note, with fine textured tannins. It needs time, for sure.
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.