La Canal del Rojo 2017 Proelio DOC Rioja Vinedo Singular, Palacios, Spain

La Canal del Rojo is a single vineyard Garnacha from a high altitude vineyard.
It shows a elegant ruby red colour in the glass and opens with a warm, fruity but intense and complex - nose of red fruits notes and aromatic herbs. On the palate you get full fresh flavours with perfect tension, a subtle minerality and soft ripe tannins. It is clean long and fresh on the finish, offering aromatic wild notes that linger. The wood remains balanced in the background throughout.

This 100% Garnacha is from a single vineyard with old clone vines over 80 years old at 565M of altitude - which was important in a year (2017) when only the higher vineyards were spared widespread frost!

Palacios's own tasting note says 'fresh, fruity, mineral, and transparent as it expresses Garnacha’s elegant side, with wild notes; aromatic and persistent'. Can't argue with that!

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!

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