It's been a while since I've had a mellow, perfectly drinkable Rioja and this La Montesa fit the bill nicely.  Rioja is still the king of Spanish wine but there are so many faces and styles to the region that it can be really confusing to find a nice bottle at a good price.  The traditional Rioja styles remain popular amongst wine geeks but the good ones cost a pretty penny.  The bold, modern style comes at all price points, but they are not always as mellow and ready to drink...something to cherish in Rioja.  There are lots somewhere in between, embracing both tradition and the modern...the hybrid is maybe the most user-friendly style.  La Montesa, from one of the modern masters of Spanish wine, Alvaro Palacios, is one of these and makes for good drinking at a great price in the 2009 vintage.