Bodegas Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja Crianza 2022
High up on the rugged slopes of Mount Yerga, Álvaro Palacios has completely revitalized his family's historic estate. Bodegas Palacios Remondo focuses heavily on Garnacha, a grape that thrives in the warm, sun-baked eastern edge of the region. By allowing the Mediterranean breezes to cool the vines, the estate produces a Rioja Crianza with incredible natural energy rather than relying on heavy, dominant oak. La Montesa pours with real brightness, offering a lively mix of wild strawberry, crushed red cherry, and a faint, fragrant hint of fresh orange peel. While the wine does spend time resting in barrels to round out the edges, the wood stays firmly in the background. The result is a beautifully smooth, medium-bodied Spanish red wine that feels entirely fresh and mouth-watering from the first sip to the last. This is the kind of vibrant red that instantly brings a dinner table to life. Forget the heavy, stewed styles of the past; this is vivid and highly drinkable. It sits wonderfully next to a slow-roasted shoulder of pork, a hearty chorizo and butter bean stew, or simply a comforting chicken casserole.
