Plácet de Valtomelloso 2023
Rioja, J. Palacios Remondo, 750 ml
Rioja all in white
- The Viura grape is northern Spain's most important white wine variety – and it shows itself at its best in Plácet.
- Complex on the nose, with subtle toasted notes. On the palate, it is smooth yet lively, juicy, full-bodied and dense.
- Perfect with aperitifs, seafood or asparagus – and really comes into its own with creamy dishes.
Description
Thirty years ago, Álvaro Palacios set out to reinvent Rioja’s white wines with the Plácet – and he succeeded! This wine showcases the Viura grape at its very best. A skilful balance between tradition and modernity. On the nose: apple, pear, peach, herbs and toasted notes. On the palate, it is smooth and lively, juicy with a noticeable grip, full-bodied and dense. A distinctive hint of aniseed. A versatile companion – not just for a relaxed aperitif, but also with all kinds of seafood, asparagus dishes or creamy vegetable risotto.
Attributes
| Grape variety: | Viura |
| Producer: | J. Palacios Remondo |
| Origin: | Spain / Rioja |
| Label: | Certified organic or biodynamic wine |
| Ripening potential: | 2 to 10 years |
| Drinking temperature: | 10 to 12 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Asparagus specialities, Succulent chicken breast with cream sauc, Giant crevettes, grilled langoustines |
| Vinification: | partly destemmed, (short) pellicular fermentation, soft pressing, fermentation in wooden barrel |
| Harvest: | hand-picking, strict selection |
| Maturation: | in large wooden barrel/foudre |
| Bottling: | filtration |
| Maturation duration: | 10 months |
| Volume: | 13.0 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Viura
For fruity cava and white Rioja
Still or sparkling: the Macabeo can do both. In its native Catalonia, it forms, with Parellada and Xarello, the triumvirate of cava grapes. It gives the sparkling wine its fresh apple fruit; the Parellada provides elegance, and the Xarello contributes body and fullness. Pressed as a still white wine, the Macabeo smells of apple, pear, flowers and herbs. A light almond note often comes as well. This can be tasted in the classic white wines from Rioja: they are made from this variety, which there is called Viura. The Macabeo – also spelled Macabeu – migrated from northern Spain across the border into French Roussillon.
Rioja
Rioja: A legend in upheaval
It is the flagship of the Spanish wine industry: the Rioja region, with its elegant, yet storable wines, most of which are dominated by the Tempranillo, has decisively influenced the image of Spanish wine. Above all, the Reservas and Gran Reservas, aged for years in barrels, enjoy a magical reputation. For about 20 years, the Rioja houses have created a sensation with modern-designed, fruity wines, which are marked more by their terroir than their aging processes.
Spain
Spain – Variety and perfection
“Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember...,” begins Don Quixote's odyssey.
The most famous part is definitely when Don Quixote thinks windmills are his enemy and wants to fight them – until they nearly kill him. It’s possible there was a bit too much of the La Mancha wine at play. Spanish vines fight for their survival in rugged landscapes, battling fierce drought and rough soils. But they fight well.
