Palacios Remondo La Vendimia Rioja 2022
Álvaro Palacios is one of the few winemakers in Spain who can genuinely be called a superstar. After making his name revolutionising Priorat (and creating some of the world’s most expensive wines), he returned to his ancestral home in Alfaro, Rioja, to take the reins at the family estate. La Vendimia ("The Vintage") is the result of that homecoming. Forget the dusty, leather-heavy, vanilla-soaked Riojas of the past. This is the modern face of the region. Situated on the high-altitude hillsides of Monte Yerga, Álvaro champions the Garnacha grape, utilising old bush vines and the unique silty soils to create something startlingly fresh. Because this is 100% Garnacha, it drinks with a lightness and energy that is almost Pinot-esque. It is vibrant, youthful, and unashamedly fruity. On the nose fragrant and aromatic. Think ripe cherries, redcurrants, and raspberries, lifted by delicate violet notes and a crack of black pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with a juicy "orchard fruit" core, soft minerality, and a silky texture. The tannins are fine and gentle, making this a red wine that doesn't demand a steak to make sense.
