Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2010, Rioja, Spain

75% of this Rioja is made with Grenache, and in a supporting role Tempranillo at 20% and Mazuelo at 5%, maturation in mostly French oak (90%) with the remaining 10% American oak and alcohol comes in at 14%.

Ruby red in the glass with a tings of violet this wine opened up with aromas of red berry fruit, plums, leather, spices and light cedar and vanilla. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with spicy bright flavors, lively acidity and well integrated fine tannins. Good energy and length on the finish with flavors of sweet and tangy berry fruit lingering. Another great wine from Alvaro Palacios, showing lots of charm and personality. I can almost describe this as a spicy Pinot Noir, strongly recommended score 89 points.

Purchased September 14, 2013 at the SAQ (10556993) at $19.65    

Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2008, Rioja, Spain

The 2008 is not as approachable in its youth as the 2007 vintage was, this is a little bolder with grittier tannins. This Crianza ( In Spanish wine labelling laws means, for reds, wine aged for 2 years with at less 6 months in oak) is mostly Grenache with Tempranillo and Mazuelo rounding out this Rioja. Definitely nice aromatics here with red fruit, floral notes, vanilla, toasty oak and spices. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol at 14%) with a mouthfeel that seems a little disjointed, where flavours haven’t quite married together yet, but the acidity is fresh and tannins are a bit chalky. The finish is long, spicy, fruity with cedar woodsy tannins lingering. Like I said before, this wine will get better in a year or two in your cellar. Last year's (2007) vintage was bought at a Ontario LCBO store for $14.95 and I must have bought about 6 of them, it was so smooth. This 2008 vintage was bought in Québec for $20.05... not the value it was last year. Score 87 points.

This wine was purchased on November 27, 2011 at the SAQ for $20.05.