Palencia Winery Has Several Stunning New Releases Coming Your Way in 2022
Winemaker Victor Palencia has a full slate of new releases coming your way in 2022 that should be on your radar for “Washington wines to try” in the New Year. They’re available for purchase on line and at his Kennewick and West Richland tasting rooms, where a visit to each is highly recommended.
Here are tasting notes on a few of his new wines carrying the Palencia Winery label. Enjoy!
Palencia Winery 2019 Grenache – Gorgeous cherry aromatics and flavors lead off, followed by brighter raspberry, red currant, and ripe pomegranate fruit that result in great finishing acidity. With its dark color and complex structure, this is a beautifully crafted New World-style Grenache from the Yakima Valley AVA. Try it with flank steak and grilled vegetables or, for fun, a BLT with extra-crispy bacon.
Palencia Winery 2019 Casa Amarilla – This combination of 60-percent Grenache, 30-percent Syrah, and 10-percent Mourvèdre is packed with bright, fresh, lead-off flavors of strawberry, cranberry sauce, and Red Delicious apple. The mid-palate also shows some headier dark plum and black cherry fruit with a trailing note of caramel and roasted walnut that give this thought-provoking wine an extra level of complexity.
Palencia Winery 2019 Syrah – Rose petals, white pepper, and a whiff of roasted coffee contribute to a stunning bouquet, with plenty of brambly berries, black plum, and black currant fruit on the palate and a splash of espresso on the finish. Solid tannins and nice acidity make this an excellent and versatile food-pairing wine to serve with everything from seared duck breast to grilled lamb burgers.
Palencia Winery 2019 Mourvèdre – Primarily used for blending, Mourvèdre is sometimes bold and tannic as a stand-alone varietal. And although there’s plenty of heft with this wine, it also carries a near-elegant quality and a savory/earthy flavor profile. Black olive, tarragon, and elderberry stand out, with notes of dried cherry on a lengthy finish. Gamey meats or a hearty beef stew come to mind as excellent food choices.
Palencia Winery El Viñador 2018 Tempranillo – Sweet tobacco and cigar box aromatics are followed by layers of concentrated Italian cherry, rum raisin, and cola flavors along with nuances of leather and cedar. The mile-long finish strikes the perfect balance between silky and textured, resulting in a “wow” wine that is both instantly drinkable and a cellar-worthy choice for future enjoyment.
Palencia Winery El Viñador 2019 Syrah – Sourced from the Red Mountain AVA, this incredible Syrah opens with intoxicating aromatics of violets and hazelnuts. Intense dark fruits of currant, blackberry, and Marionberry come to the forefront, along with a slice of blueberry cobbler. The dreamy, ultra-long/ultra-velvety finish concludes with deft touches of marzipan, café au lait, and toasted almonds.