2022 Alvaro Palacios, Quinon Valmira, Rioja

The 2022 Quiñon de Valmira, Perez’s wine from Eastern Rioja, is a blend of 85% Garnacha and a mixture of other varieties, cropped at 14.5hL/ha. It has a light, airy bouquet with black fruit, chimney soot and subtle sea spray scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth and velvety opening. Plush tannins, lightly spiced, fresh and focused with a twist of bitter cherry and soy towards the finish. This is going to be very seductive. I adore its seamlessness.

Tank sample. 85% Garnacha, 15% other red grapes. From the village of Yerga, a Vi ñedo Singular on Monte Yerga. Vineyard of 3 ha, yield 14.5 hl/ha. 5,552 bottles produced. An eye-opening Rioja which, despite its youth, seems open and inviting already. Smooth, ripe fruit on the palate but retains lovely elegance and freshness. Restrained notes of sappy wood and savoury characters all add to great complexity in the mouth. Violet and crushed rose on the nose. So much going on here. I think this is worth the price. (AWH)