Alvaro Palacios Priorat Camins 2021

Description

Alvaro Palacios is not the sole force behind the revival of Priorat, but he has become the pin-up producer of the region. Effectively he makes his own Burgundian classification of wines - a single barrel of the famed and elusive L'Ermita (Grand Cru), the single vineyard Finca Dofi (Premier Cru), wines from a single village Gratallops (Village wine) and finally the entry level that we have here, the Camins de Priorat. A delicious but always delicate blend of the traditional varieties of Priorat (Garnacha and Carinena), with a little of the international varieties beefing up the body just a touch. Always emblematic of the possibilities of the region it has fine red fruits, bright cleansing acidity and those fine, sandy tannins thanks to the varieties and the local licorella slate.

Black plum colour. Aromas of licorice, currants and blackberries. Supple and velvety on the attack, the wine offers a gorgeous ripe blueberry, fig, and blackcurrant fruit accented by notes of dark roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate. Fine tannins emerge on the wine’s back-palate. Long, spicy, licorice-tinged finish.

The more modern and different 2021 Camins del Priorat, a blend of 40% Garnacha, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 15% Cariñena and 6% Syrah, is a little more balsamic with some herbal notes and some dusty tannins. It's powerful with 14.5% alcohol and has good balance. This fermented 100% destemmed in concrete and stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak barrels and vats for six months. Drink 2023-2026. Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate