2022 Palacios Remondo La Montesa

Álvaro Palacios, after successes in Priorat and Bierzo, returned to his native Rioja in 2000 and took over the management of the family business Palacios Remondo. He was concerned about the transformation of Rioja into a region with large volumes, excessive use of wood and little attention to terroir. Palacios sought change and advocated for a reorientation from Rioja Baja to Rioja Oriental, a name change that was implemented in 2018. This was accompanied by adjustments in maturation rules and geographical classification. Rioja Oriental is known as a warm area where bulk wines are often produced, mainly with garnacha due to its southern exposure. Despite this, Álvaro Palacios decided to completely replant the family vineyards, originally planted with tempranillo, with old garnacha vines. This was a considerable effort, but for Palacios it was the only right way to produce quality wine in this area.

Ten noorden van de rivier de Ebro, genesteld in de bergen van Spanje op grote hoogte, ligt Rioja Alavesa, een kleine regio die enorm succesvol is geweest in het combineren van historische traditionele wijnproductiemethoden en tegelijkertijd met succes nieuwe technologieën heeft geïntegreerd. Dit maakt de regio uniek, omdat u alles kunt proeven, van jaargangen die zijn gerijpt in middeleeuwse wijngrotten tot wijn die wordt geproduceerd in de meest avant-gardistische faciliteiten.

Culturele geografie en taalliefhebbers zouden graag willen opmerken dat terwijl de regio's Rioja Baja en Rioja Alta in de Spaanse provincie liggen, Rioja Alavesa in Baskenland ligt.

Het ruige Cantabrische gebergte domineert hier het landschap, waardoor deze regio een uitstekend microklimaat heeft voor de wijnbouw. Wijngaarden worden aangeplant op grote hoogte waar ze worden blootgesteld aan koelere avondtemperaturen onder invloed van de Atlantische Oceaan, waardoor druiven hun natuurlijke zuurgraad behouden.

De grond op de hellingen en terrassen bestaat voornamelijk uit klei en kalksteen, wat resulteert in wijnen die rijk en complex zijn. Veel wijnstokken kunnen bogen op een leeftijd van 40 jaar of ouder en staan ​​bekend om hun ongelooflijk geconcentreerde smaken.

De bekendste producenten in de regio zijn Remirez de Ganuza en Luis Canas. Tempranillo regeert oppermachtig, terwijl Spaanse Grenache (Garnacha), Mazuelo, Graciano en Viura uitzonderlijke waarde bieden.

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Rioja wines enjoy an excellent reputation. That is entirely justified, because a Rioja wine is usually a good wine. The Spaniards have an ancient wine tradition and the craft and expertise can be tasted in every glass. Rioja wines come from the Rioja region, which is located in the north of Spain. The River Río Oja separates the area into two parts, the North and the South. Rioja wine takes its name from this river.

When there are no other mentions on a bottle, the Rioja wine has spent a few months in an oak barrel. The Rioja Crianza must have matured for at least two years, the Reserva for three years and the Gran Reserva for five years, two of which are cask and three years in the bottle. The main grape varieties of the Rioja wines are the grenache blanc, the viura and the malvasia for white wine. For red and rosé these are the tempranillo, the grenache noir, the graciano and the mazuelo. The soil has a major influence on the taste of wine. This also applies to Rioja wines.

The Rioja soil contains a lot of lime and ferrous clay. The soil also contains some limestone here and there. A white Rioja wine shows elements of white fruit (pear and wine peach), while the red wines have hints of notes with hints of blackberry and cocoa. The rosé is again aimed at a fresh, fruity taste; perfect for a sun-filled afternoon on the terrace. It is best to serve the white Rioja wine and the rosé when they have a temperature of between 8 and 16 ⁰C degrees, while the red Rioja wines come into their own at a temperature of 16 ⁰C.

The Tempranillo grape originally comes from the Rioja region in Spain. With its thick skin, the Tempranillo produces wines with a deep color and little alcohol. It is striking that Tempranillo wines can be stored for a long time without much loss of color. Around 80% of the total production of the Tempranillo grape is grown in Spain!

A Worldwide Spread Grape

Tempranillo is widely planted in regions such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Valdepeñas, Navarra, Costers del Segre and along the Mediterranean coast. The grape gets its name from the fact that it ripens early - "temprano" means 'early' in Spanish. In addition to Spain, the grape can also be found in Portugal, where it is known as tinta roriz or aragonez, and even in Argentina, where it goes by the name Tempranilla.

The Unique Taste of Tempranillo

Wines made from the Tempranillo grape generally have a fruity and smooth taste, including red and dark fruits such as cherries, plums and blackberries, along with secondary notes of tobacco, leather, vanilla and spices. The flavor profile can vary depending on factors such as terroir, climate and winemaking techniques. The Tempranillo grape produces wines with lots of color and structure that can mature well in wood. The wines go well with Spanish dishes such as tapas, grilled meat, paella and cured meats. Its moderate acidity and tannins make it an easily adaptable wine to many dishes.

Explore Our Tempranillo Collection

At Grandcruwijnen we have a huge range of wines made from the Tempranillo grape. Discover the variety of flavors and styles from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where Tempranillo is the main grape. Enjoy the accessibility and richness of Tempranillo wines, both pure and blended, which pair perfectly with different dishes and occasions.