From a young age, the audacious Álvaro Palacios harboured dreams of becoming many things: a bullfighter, a motorcycle racer, a singer... Yet, being born into a family of winemakers in the eastern part of La Rioja, his fate seemed to be uniquely predetermined. As he grew, he quickly realised that to achieve greatness in life, the more knowledge one acquires, the better. And what he knew most about was wine. Not merely because his family had surrounded him with vineyards and barrels, but because, in some inexplicable way, wine coursed through his veins. Álvaro is not content with what is readily apparent. He is a true wine archaeologist. For him, viticulture extends far beyond geography or climate; what truly captivates him is what lies beneath the soil: the anthropological roots, the history, the culture, and above all, the tradition of labour that has shaped the relationship between man and nature.
Carving out a path in diverse lands, from Priorat to Bierzo, upon returning to his native land in the DOCa Rioja, he decides to craft a wine at the family winery Palacios Remondo that not only narrates the story of La Rioja but also embodies all he had learned over the years. Thus, La Montesa is born, a wine originating from garnacha vineyards planted at an altitude of 550 metres in the municipality of Alfaro, in the Rioja Baja. Its soils, abundant in limestone, clay-ferrous, and pebbles, coupled with its Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influence, are perfect for achieving excellent grape maturation. The harvest is conducted manually, taking advantage of the hours of low solar intensity to keep the grapes fresh and of the highest quality. Once at the winery, the process continues with meticulous selection, low-temperature maceration for 23 days, and fermentation in stainless steel tanks for three weeks. Finally, the wine is aged in French oak barrels (90%) and American (10%) for 12 months, in a blend that includes new barrels and those from several previous wines, imparting a unique complexity to this wine.
La Montesa is a fresh, fruity, and characterful Rioja garnacha. A true gem crafted by a genuine wine archaeologist, perfect for any occasion. As the renowned wine guru James Suckling notes, it is a $15 wine that tastes like a $50 one. So, why wait? Any excuse is perfect to open a bottle.