The La Montesa vineyard is located at an altitude of 600 meters and is primarily planted with Garnacha. Tempranillo and Mazuele play supporting roles in this La Montesa Rioja.
The origins of Alvaro Palacios
Alvaro Palacios comes from a prestigious wine family in La Rioja. He could have earned a prominent position at the family winery, the world-famous Palacios Remondo. But he chose a different path. He studied enology in Bordeaux and had the enviable position of working under Pomerol superstar Châteaus Pétrus winemaker Jean Pierre Moueix. Upon returning to Spain, he established his own winery in 1989 in the Mediterranean wine region of Priorat, south of Barcelona in Tarragona. Along with the respected winemaker René Barbier and a few others, they embarked on what became known as the "Gratallops Project," named after the picturesque Priorat village where the wines are produced.
This red wine is named after a hillside vineyard on the northeastern slope of Mount Yerga in eastern Rioja. La Montesa is a blend of indigenous grape varieties grown on the Palacios Remondo estate. Situated at an altitude of 1,800 feet, Palacios Remondo's vineyards are cultivated at some of the highest points in Rioja. The 30-year-old, head-trained vines are hand-harvested, organically farmed, and very closely spaced (3,000 plants per hectare). The soil consists of sediments dating back to the Quaternary period, consisting of clay and a stony, calcareous subsoil, covered with stones, with excellent drainage. Very low in organic matter and with a moderate base pH, the soil is perfect for growing high-quality fruit. By dry-growing and dropping nearly 40% of their fruit, Palacios Remondo ensures that only the highest quality fruit is picked during harvest.
A powerful palette of flavors
On the nose, it has seductive aromas of red and black fruit, floral notes, and spices. The entire wine is aged for twelve months in oak barrels, a quarter of which are new. This period is crucial for the depth of this Alvaro Palacios! The palate offers a powerful palette of black fruit, beautiful ripe spices, vanilla, and, of course, a good touch of oak. The palate is velvety and refined, with ripe tannins. The finish is long.
2020
