Bodegas Palacio Cosme Palacio Vinedos en Altitud Crianza Rioja Alavesa 2017

Cosme Palacio is admired as one of the most historic and iconic wineries in the sub-region of Rioja Alavesa. They toe the line between classic and modern Rioja styles, and embrace innovative techniques in their farming and winemaking practices all the while. Today’s 94 point “Crianza” leans more modern (no American oak, and less time on oak in comparison to historical norms), creating an ultra-concentrated, lively, and remarkably fresh iteration of tempranillo that must be tried to believe… especially at our salivatingly low price of under $20 a bottle!

In 1863, when Cosme Palacio came to be, there were only a handful of producers in the Rioja Alavesa sub-region that served as somewhat of a co-op to initiate the area’s grape growing efforts. Cosme Palacio Bermejillo took over his father’s winery in 1894, transforming the future of the winery.

“Let us understand the vineyards, let us bring new techniques, let us make a wine for the living rooms and tables of today. That the wine of the Rioja Alavesa may be full of life and reaches the global importance it deserves.” – Cosme Palacio Bermejillo

Ever the visionary and pioneer, Cosme Palacio sought to expand Rioja’s wines to the international level, hoping to one day compete with the great wines of Bordeaux. His approach meant expressing the unique terroir of the old-vine, high-elevation vineyards in Rioja within the wines – and approaching farming and limited yields with steadfast manual practices that ultimately produce world-class tempranillo. As years passed, the winery brought on some of the most globally celebrated winemakers, including the legendary Michel Rolland, to achieve Cosme Palacio’s dream of bringing Rioja to the global forefront. Historically, Rioja wineries have used their best fruit for the extended aging of their Gran Reserva wines, but Cosme Palacio wondered if a quicker production method could be just as effective...especially as new generations of wine drinkers focused less on aging their wines for years and years.

This 2017 vintage is a promising answer to that question – made of the best fruit from the best vineyards, with 40-plus-year-old vines at 500- to 600-meter elevation, all aged in new French oak for just 12 months. It’s, in a word, magnificent.

Bright, powerful, smooth...it wafts with scents of currant, cedar, and red cherry, plus back notes of cinnamon, toasted vanilla bean, black plums, and a minerally, fresh zing. Both structured and lengthy, “en Altitud” was crafted to age for at least 10 years, but is just as drinkable right at this very moment...an absolute treat for serious wine drinkers! It’s just brazen and powerful as all get out, and we dearly appreciate the history of this winery, as Rioja wouldn’t be what it is today without them. We couldn’t help but snap up all we could get our hands on for this killer price, and only have a lingering supply left in our chilled warehouse! Salud, and make your move!