2018 Álvaro Palacios Remondo Quiñón de Valmira

The Remondo winery Rioja Palacios is a family business linked to wine production for four generations. One of the most notable members of this family is Álvaro Palacios, who also makes wines in Priorat (L'Ermita, Finca Dofí, Les Terrasses) and El Bierzo (Corullón, La Faraona, Petalos). Now with Remondo they have a very modern Rioja house on the map.

The 2018 Quiñón de Valmira is the only wine produced under Álvaro's personal label and sold through different channels than the rest of the wines produced at the Palacios Remondo winery in Alfaro.

The Valmira is a 100% Garnacha from a vineyard of only 3 hectares in the area of Quinón de Valmira, in the municipality of Alfaro. Calcareous, clay-ferrous soils with fine sediments. 2018 is one of the best vintages in the Rioja. In 2018 they used about 30% full bunches that have been given a natural fermentation (i.e. with the natural yeast that is present on the grapes) in oak barrels with punch-downs and a maceration of no less than 66 days!!

The malolactic fermentation further took place in oak barriques and matured for 18 months. The wine is sparkling ruby red, ethereal, perfumed and floral, citrus notes (zest) with class and elegance and on the palate fresh and crunchy flavors of pomegranate and watermelon that will make you salivate. There are tons of spring flowers and aromatic herbs, like you can smell walking in the countryside on a warm spring day. It has an intoxicating nose and the mouthfeel is delicate with an incredible inner strength. This is Quiñón de Valmira's best vintage to date and the absolute top of the Rioja. In April 2020, 4,400 bottles were filled. 98/100 Parker