Priorat's slate and schist give this blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, and a whisper of white grapes a dusty minerality. Wet stones and vibrant red berries held together by firm, lightly chewy tannins and transparent structure. Alvaro Palacios has the pedigree and the palate to make this sing: one sip and you understand why his name carries weight in Spanish wine.
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 60% Garnacha, 39% Cariñena, 1% Other White Grapes
Professional Ratings
93
James SucklingTasted: Oct 2024. Subtle dusty spices, vibrant red berries and an engaging touch of minerals akin to wet stones. Firm and lightly chewy on the palate, with a medium body and a transparent but well-structured finish. Drink or hold.
93
Wine Spectator
About the Producer
If anyone embodies the promise and spirit of “The New Spain,” it is Álvaro Palacios. His L’Ermita is widely considered—along with Peter Sisseck’s Pingus—to be the most important new Spanish wine of the modern era. One of nine children born to the owners of Rioja’s respected Palacios Remondo, Álvaro studied enology in Bordeaux, while working under Jean-Pierre Moueix at Ch. Pétrus. He credits his tenure at Pétrus for much of his winemaking philosophy and for showing him “the importance of great wines.” Álvaro could have returned to the security of his family’s domaine.
