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Alvaro Palacios ‘Vi de la Vila Gratallops’ Garnacha 2010

$139.99

Priorat made by legendary Alvaro Palacios LIMITED

Out of stock

Categories: , , Product ID: 8023

Description

Alvaro Palacios, whose family owns the prestigious Rioja Bodega, Palacios Remondo, spent 2 years at Château Pétrus before setting up on his own in Priorat in 1989. From the outset, he set out to produce world-class wines by using fruit from extremely low-yielding old vines and by applying ultra-modern winemaking techniques. He is now considered one of the “rock stars” of modern Spanish wine making best known for his work in revitalising the region of Priorat and his ultra-pricey “Grand Cru”, L’Ermita.Alvaro Palacios is without doubt the finest producer in Priorat, one of the most unique terroirs of world wine (steep mountainous countryside renowned for its schist rock soils (called “Licorella”), working with indigenous old strains of Garnacha).He is famed for Spain’s most famous and prestigious Grand Cru “L’Ermita”  along with this, his village wine “Gratallops” and his extraordinary single vineyard “Finca Dofi”.

Alvaro lobbied for legalisation allowing the naming of wines according to their Village location. Prior to this, a perverse illegality applied, whereby growers were not allowed to use Village names on their wines. There are now 12 legal Priorat Vi de la Vila sub-regional village appellations. The first release of such was the 2007 “Gratallops”. The fruit source is Alvaro’s various holdings in-and-around Gratallops, 8.5 hectares in eight parcels other than Finca Dofi and L’Ermita. The wine’s composition for the first vintages (2007 on) was roughly 1/3 each of Garnacha, Samsó and Cabernet.

This wine, a blend of Garnacha, Carinena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Picapoll, is sourced from six of the nine villages of Gratallops. The 2010 has a dense colour then an attractive nose of forest floor, herbs, dark fruit and garrigue. Garnacha exuberance, albeit dignified, with dense serious grippy tannins and a fresh lively finish.

90 points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, Apr 2012 … “The sensual 2010 Gratallops is sourced from several tiny parcels around the village that lends its name. It is a blend of 65% Garnacha, 15% Samso, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah cropped at just 9 hectoliters per hectare. It has a lovely, sensual bouquet where the Garnacha really shines: boysenberry, lavender, potpourri and a touch of kirsch that are all beautifully defined. You don’t know whether to drink it or stroke it. It is showing a little oak at the moment, although it will be subsumed with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy, well-defined entry, blackberry, raspberry, white pepper and a little game vying for attention. The tannins are fine and supple, while the finish is harmonious and caressing.

92 Points | Stephen Tanzer’s IWC,  2012 .. “Dark ruby.  Aromas of cherry, cassis, cocoa, Asian spices and underbrush, lifted by a strong mineral quality.  Juicy, sappy and nicely concentrated, with very good density to its flavors of blackcurrant, bitter cherry and candied rose.  A lively, sexy wine that finishes with strong mineral bite and impressive length.”
RRP $170

Additional information

Producer

Alvaro Palacios

Variety

Grenache and Blends

Region or Country

Priorat, Spain

Vintage

2010

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