Remondo Crianza La Montesa Organic

Country: Spain Region: Rioja

Varietal: Garnacha

 Colour: Red Style: Dry

Producer: Palacios Remondo

Description:

The wines comes from the three named sites – Valtomelloso, Valfrío and Valviejo – in La Montesa, a vineyard at 550 m (1,800 ft) above sea level in the foothills of Mount Yerga. As you can see from the photo above and at top, the slope is quite gentle (10%) facing east and south-east. The soils are silty alluvial with a calcareous layer that keeps the soil temperature relatively cool despite the semi-arid Mediterranean climate. The vines are a mix of ages, most of them planted by Álvaro Palacios’ father from 1988 to 2001, with Valviejo added in 2011. They began transitioning to organic cultivation in 2004, going entirely organic in 2011 and gaining certification in 2017. 

It is technically a field blend of 95% Garnacha Tinta and 5% other grape varieties traditional to the region, all picked by hand. Palacios used to destem the grapes but starting in 2020 he began including a portion of the stems in the ferment (20% in 2020, 50% in 2021). He ferments the fruit in stainless-steel vats with ambient yeasts, then transfers the wine after malolactic conversion is finished to oak barrels (80% French and 20% American; some new and some barrels up to 6 years old), where it rests for a year.

Tasting Note: The wine has enticing aromas of cherries, long stem strawberries, pomegranate juice and red grapefruit rind. On the palate is silky with notes of Bing cherries, ripe nectarines and hints of Mediterranean aromatic herbs. Meant to enjoy now or age up to 10 years