($38, Rare Wine Company): Palacios is one of the winemakers who were responsible for the renaissance of winemaking in this unique region.  It’s easy to see why the vines were abandoned over the years:  steep slopes of solid rock.  A reasonable person could ask, why bother to replant vines here?  Fortunately for us consumers, Palacios and his compatriots bothered.  You can smell and feel the stone in this wine.  A blend of Garnacha and Cariñena, locally referred to as Samsó, it’s firm and mineral-infused, yet not hard or astringent. The combination of power and elegance is simply stunning.  Indeed, you can enjoy it now, albeit, with hearty winter fare.  This is not a wine to sip as an aperitif.  But, boy is it good with lamb chops.
92 Michael Apstein Oct 6, 2015