Unit price: HUF 11 867 / litre. Our prices are gross prices.
DRS - mandatory return fee: HUF 50/piece. Details: here.
Rioja is the land of old vines, lengthily-aged wines and traditional winemaking techniques. It is also one of the world’s most famous red wine regions, having produced the majority of Spain's wine legends over the last 150 years. With over 65,000 hectares of vineyards – more than the entire area of Hungary’s land under vine and approaching twice that of New Zealand’s – the region is divided into three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja (now Rioja Oriental).
Rioja Baja lies to the east of Logroño and has historically been considered the region’s peripheral area. However, in recent years, the somewhat diminishing name ‘Baja’ was replaced with the more dignified ‘Oriental’, and it is now the official designation. This area is situated at a lower elevation and experiences more of the Mediterranean heat, making it the safety reserve of the region. Here, the dominance of Tempranillo is less pronounced, allowing the more heat-loving Garnacha to thrive. Traditionally, the riper grapes from this area helped round out and enhance the overall quality of Rioja wines.
One of the most important wines from Álvaro Palacios' estate in this region is La Montesa, a true standout in our Rioja selection. Due to its unique blend, it stands apart from other Tempranillo-based blends in terms of character. The grapes come from a nearly 100-hectare, organically cultivated, bush-vine vineyard. The blend is made up of 95% Garnacha, with the remaining 5% being Tempranillo and Mazuelo. After destemming, the grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation on the skins in a tank, followed by 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels.
La Montesa punches well above its price category in terms of complexity, offering a generous wine in which earthy tones, ripe fruits, violets and roasted nuts all appear harmoniously. The palate is smooth, relaxed and rich, with a long finish.