The young 50/50 blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo from the zone of Alfaro in Rioja is the 2019 La Vendimia. It was scheduled to be bottled after mid-July 2020, after aging in oak vats and barrels for four months to add some complexity while preserving the freshness and primary character of the wine. It has a nose that combines the floral character of the Garnacha and the more serious profile of Tempranillo, with the two being quite integrated. It's juicy and lively, medium to full-bodied, with 14.3% alcohol, reflecting the heat and drought of the year. It has attractive aromas and flavors that are refined and elegant, gravitating toward floral and red fruit notes, and with very fine tannins that give it a silky texture. The mouthfeel is quite soft, with integrated acidity; it doesn't reflect the extreme conditions of the year and comes through as nicely balanced. There will be 337,000 bottles of this vintage.

The blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo 2018 La Vendimia had been in bottle for a little over one month when I tasted it, yet it felt harmonious and expressive. It's a juicy and fruit-driven 50/50 blend of the two grapes fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak barrels for four months. This year the wine shows more freshness, and in this cooler year, even the Tempranillo feels quite lifted and fresh, with red rather than black fruit, as the variety can suffer in warmer years in this warmer part of Rioja. This is fresh, young and juicy, with round and lush tannins, one of the finest years for this young bottling. 362,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.

Smoky and light earthy notes frame black cherry and plum flavors in this round red, keeping this balanced. Light, firm tannins support the generous texture, while gentle acidity adds freshness. Drink now through 2022. 1,876 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add

The juicy and fruit-driven 2016 La Vendimia is a blend of 50/50 Garnacha and Tempranillo (the percentage of Garnacha has been increasing) from different organically farmed vineyards; it fermented in stainless steel and matured in oak barrels for four months. álvaro Palacios would like to increase the amount of Garnacha, but they do not have more organically farmed Garnacha (there are less than 4,000 hectares of Garnacha in Rioja Baja, which they now call Rioja Oriental, something that álvaro started), but they have very good Tempranillo. The nose is very Mediterranean, with notes of herbs and spices, showing typicity of both grapes. It's soft and approachable, pleasant and fresh, with some tannins. They produce no less than 350,000 bottles and 2,000 magnums of this wine.

This red shows good density, with black cherry, plum, espresso and black olive flavors mingling over firm tannins and balsamic acidity. Stays balanced and focused through the smoky finish. Drink now through 2027. 3,552 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add