Palacios Remondo, Rioja (Spain) 2015

 I learned that Alvaro Palacios was passionate about Garnacha, a.k.a. Grenache, at the 2010 Grenache Symposium at Chemin de la Verrièr in Crestet, France.  He was adamant that Garnacha was best when grown organically at higher altitudes, as are the 30 to 90-year-old vines at 2,100 feet in the family’s Rioja Oriental vineyard.  The grapes were fermented with natural yeasts in 5000-gallon oak tanks, the wine aged 18 months in French oak barrels and foudres, then bottled unfiltered.  This is a stunningly elegant wine with pure, focused strawberry, cherry fruit layered with notes of orange zest and fresh, aromatic, woody herbs.  It is lush on the palate, yet tightly structured with bright acidity and fine tannins.  It is delicious now and has the structure to age gracefully.