This unfined, unfiltered offering, from steep vineyards (60-100-years old) composed primarily of schist, is 100% Mencia, a varietal indigenous to Bierzo. It is fashioned by the brilliant Spanish winemaker, Alvaro Palacios, from tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare. A finished barrel sample of the 2004 Petalos del Bierzo revealed a lovely perfume of blueberries, flowers, and crushed stones. Soft, with ripe tannin, precise flavors, medium body, delicious fruit, and intensity as well as elegance, it should be drunk over the next 5-7 years. Importer: The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484