2020 Palacios Remondo, Finca La Montesa Garnacha, Viñedo Esencial, Rioja, Spain

Producer:  After making a name for himself in Priorat & Bierzo, Alvaro Palacios returned to his ancestral home in Rioja. His family’s estate, Bodega Palacios Remondo, was founded in 1945, Alvaro, 4th generation, took over in 2000, when his father passed away, converting to organic & biodynamic viticulture. He focuses on expressing Spain’s varied terroir and native grapes.

Place: in the eastern corner of the oriental district, the winery is in Alfaro, in the far east of La Rioja. La Montesa vineyard is planted to garnacha on the hillsides of Monte Yerga – This area was first planted by cistercian monks.

Soil: alluvial deposits of volcanic rock with a calcareous layer

Varietal: 90% Garnacha, 10% traditional varietals

Farming: organic certified, harvest done by hand, no irrigation.

Winemaking: grapes are destemmed, 35 day maceration, native yeast co fermentation in inox vats, 12 months in oak barriques, bottled unfiltered.