Jean Leon Vinya Palau Merlot 2018 has the designation of “Vino de Finca”, the highest recognition a wine can achieve in Catalonia. Made with merlot grapes from vineyards over 30 years old, cultivated in a single vineyard: Vinya Palau, spanning 10 hectares. A great wine that delivers the maximum expression of the merlot variety: aromatic, fresh, long, and fleshy.
General features
General Information
Jean Leon Vinya Palau Merlot 2018 is part of the select group of Catalan wines classified as 'Vi de Finca', which means it comes from a single vineyard with unique characteristics that give it great singularity; it is the highest recognition a wine can achieve in Catalonia. An organic wine, made entirely from Merlot vines of Vinya Palau, cultivated in 1991 on two types of soils: a clay-limestone terrain and a sandy one with gravel presence. This wine aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.
Jean Leon is a 'boutique winery' founded in 1963 by Jean Leon in the heart of the D.O. Penedès. Born in Santander under the name Ceferino Carrión, Jean Leon emigrated to the United States and managed to open the most luxurious restaurant in Hollywood: La Scala, frequented by the great stars of the golden era. His other great dream was to create a wine with his name that would match his exclusive clientele, and in the heart of Penedès, he found the best lands to make it a reality. Here he acquired 150 hectares and replaced the local varieties with noble French strains, becoming a pioneer in introducing grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay in Spain. In 1994, Jean Leon left the management of his winery to his friend Miguel Torres.
The name Vinya Palau is a tribute by Jean Leon to his hometown of Santander, the starting point of his successful career. Jean Leon Vinya Palau Merlot 2018 is ideal with poultry dishes like duck magret with red fruit sauce. It also pairs well with fish such as cod.
Creators' opinion
Intense red color with a deep layer. On the nose, it stands out for its black fruit, aromatic herbs, and a hint of cítricos. All of this on a background of light toasty notes. On the palate, it is notable for its acidity, which gives it freshness and length. With sweet tannins and a fleshy passage.
The winery
Jean Leon is a 'boutique winery' founded in 1963 by Jean Leon in the heart of the Penedès. Jean Leon, born in Santander under the name Ceferino Carrión, emigrated to the United States and managed to open the most luxurious restaurant in Hollywood: La Scala, frequented by the biggest stars. His other great dream was to create a wine bearing his name that would live up to his select clientele, and in the heart of the Penedès, he found the best lands to make it a reality. Here, he acquired 150 hectares and replaced the local vines with noble French varieties, becoming a pioneer in introducing grapes such as cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and chardonnay to Spain. He built a winery in the purest "château" style and created the first great 'cabernet sauvignon' of our country.
In 1994, two years before his death, Jean Leon left his winery to his friend Miguel Torres on the condition that he preserve his legacy. Today, under the leadership of Mireia Torres, Jean Leon's wines keep the innovative spirit of their creator alive. The winery has also been a pioneer in obtaining the "Vino de Finca" recognition in the Penedès, the highest accolade a wine can achieve in Catalonia. Moreover, Jean Leon's commitment to sustainability is absolute, producing all wines with organic certification. Currently, it has 65 hectares of vineyards, 39 of which are exclusively dedicated to cultivating its four Vinos de Finca: Vinya La Scala, Vinya Le Havre, Vinya Gigi, and Vinya Palau. Additionally, the winery has launched new wine ranges such as the 3055 range or the experimental limited editions.