La Canal del Rojo 2017 DOC Rioja Vinedo Singular, Palacios Vinos de Finca, Spain

This 100% Garnacha is from a small plot of only 0.35 hectares of 80-year-old vines at 670 metres above sea level. It matures for 15 months in 20-hectolitre French oak barrels.
It shows a elegant ruby red colour in the glass and offers an intense and complex nose, very fresh, with fresh red fruits notes and aromatic herbs. On the palate you get full fresh flavours with perfect tension, and a subtle minerality. It is clean long and fresh on the finish, offering aromatic wild notes that linger.

And boy did the critics like it!

Tim Atkin 95 points
James Suckling 94 Points 'a spicy nose with a delicious lift of black pepper on top'
Penin Guide 95 Points
Robert Parker 91 Points 'It's heady and ripe with generous oak spice'

And ... the most recent vintage (not yet released for sale) won Wine Of The Year in Tim Atkins most recent Rioja report!

The 2017 vintage itself was 'complicated' but the high areas (like La Canal del Rojo) were spared widespread frost. A lack of rain at times gave a slightly lower than average production, but the day-night contrast in temperatures did help the grapes reach optimal maturity

Alc. Vol. 14.5% (but you wouldn't notice!)
Last Tasted: October 2025