2005 Palacios Remondo “La Montesa” Rioja Crianza

Vintage: 2005

Producer/Winery: Palacios Remondo

Wine: La Montesa Rioja Crianza

Country: Spain

Region: La Rioja

Appellation: Rioja Baja

Varietal Composition: 40% Garnacha, 45% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and Graciano

Aging: 14 months 75% is French oak, 25% American oak – 10% new oak. 90% split equally between, one, two and three year old wood.

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 14 %

Winemaker: Alvaro Palacios

Imported By:  Folio Wine Company

Bottle Value: $20 USD

Production: 60,000 Cases

Where: San Jose, CA              When: December 17, 2009         With whom: Anh & I

Perspective: This is an interesting Rioja because it uses more French oak than most producers.  Honestly if I where to taste this wine blind I might mistake it for a young inexpensive Burgundy.  Upon opening it wreaked of barnyard, hay, rusty iron and red cherry. On the palate the wine was lean and reluctant to relinquishing its fruit.  The only marker that it wasn’t Burgundy was the opaque color of the core, depth of the rim and brown highlights.  Nonetheless this producer is a favorite of mine and I try to always revisit his wines.  With some age this wine will develop nicely, I think in two years I should give this wine another try… or perhaps tomorrow night. Additional Note:  After re-tasting this wine the next night it had changed completely.  The wine was more centered and dense with less mineral and hay notes and the fruit structure was more pronounced.  Take your time with this one it seems to be a little stubborn.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity.  Opaque ruby core, deep ruby rim.  Brown highlights.  No sediments or deposits detected.

Nose: Initially unclean. Faint traces of Brettanomyces-farmyard and horse sweat.  Conclusively clean.  Medium(+)  intensity, youthful aromas of red and black cherry, rusty mineral, hay and sweet tobacco.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity and alcohol.  Medium (-) unripe tannins.  Medium (-) body.  Medium intense flavors of dried red cherry and red currant. Earthy mineral notes of rust with herbaceous medicinal flavors. Balance – Drying. Lively acid, supple tannins and generous alcohol.  Texture – powdery tannins and fluid viscosity.  Overall Impression – stemmy ripeness, tertiary freshness, and mellow. Medium(+) length.

Conclusion: Good Quality for concentration and length.  Hold for another year and drink over the next five or more years.

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