Terroir Descendientes de J. Palacios
This is the highest part of the DO Bierzo. The soils are mainly slate from the early Cambrian (540 million years ago). Rock layers pile more or less horizontally (quartz, silicate, sandstone, marble, sand and clay, etc…). The altitude of the vineyards varies between 500 to 950 m above sea level. The climate is continental, with strong Atlantic influences. The “grands crus” are as follows: Moncerbal: slate and roughly transversal layers of quartz, clay, marble and gravel. The good porosity of the soil allows the roots to go deep into the lower layers. This soil has a high content of silicate and quartz. The vines are planted on a sheer slope, between 610 and 730 m above sea level. Las Lamas: slate on clay. Heavy erosion is constantly renewing the shallow upper layer (maximum 45 cm). Very acid soils, often with iron. Sheer slopes at an altitude varying between 670 and 730 m. La Faraona: horizontal slates layers intermingled with quartz, gravel and particles of clay. The upper layer is very shallow (30 cm). The vineyard is located on the top of a high hill, which makes it one of the sheerest of Bierzo (between 800 and 860 m). This hill rests on a tectonic depression, hence the presence of minerals brought by ancient eruptions (cobalt, titanium, iron, manganese...).