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. From 2011, it’s just Garnacha with a little old-vine Samsó (2018 80% Garnacha, 20% Samso or Carinena). De-stemmed, spontaneous fermentation in open wooden vat, macerated 40 days, aged 16 months in small French oak, 1-2 years old. Fined, unfiltered.
2021 vintage is more classic .. another beautiful effort with this release….decant or for the cellar. Don’t miss this
94-96 points Wine Advocate : ” The blend of the 2021 Gratallops was higher in Cariñena than in the 2020 (25%), which resulted in a wine with a lower pH (3.37), the tendency that makes the 2021s more vibrant. They used some 40% full clusters for the fermentation (rather than adding the stems like in the past). The wine has acid berry freshness; and right now it’s a bit difficult with the tannins and the acidity, but one more year of élevage should make it more polished. It should be long-lived and fresh. The expect some 17,300 bottles to be filled around April 2023. ” Sept 2022
95 points James Suckling : ” Precise nose with layers and layers of red berries, strawberries, blueberries, hibiscus, and minerals. Hint of moss, stems and white pepper, too. Beautifully knit and nimble with a precise, medium-bodied palate rounded by firm yet very silky, polished tannins. A refined, juicy finish with fine herbs that makes you crave a second glass. Really long. Drink or hold. ” July 2023.
RRP $176 Special when you buy 6 bottles or more
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.