Álvaro Palacios Les Terrasses Priorat 2021
Álvaro Palacios
Les Terrasses is Álvaro Palacios's entry into Priorat's ancient terraced vineyards — a blend that democratizes one of Spain's most revered appellations. The llicorella slate soils deliver a mineral intensity that few regions can match, and Palacios coaxes from them a wine of remarkable concentration and elegance at a price that invites regular drinking.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Dark berry fruit — blackberry and blackcurrant — dominates the nose, layered with dried herbs, violet, and a streak of minerality from Priorat's signature llicorella slate. A touch of toasted oak and cedar adds structure to the aromatics.
Palate
Full-bodied and grippy, with concentrated blackcurrant and cherry fruit riding atop fine-grained tannins. There's a savory, almost meaty quality on the mid-palate, along with hints of mint and green herbs. The mineral thread runs through everything, lending an almost electric tension.
Finish
Long and persistent, with blackcurrant, slate minerality, toasted oak, and a final floral lift of violet. The tannins resolve gracefully.
- Varietal
- Garnacha
- Blend
- Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
- Vineyards
- Old-vine terraced parcels across multiple villages in Priorat, on llicorella (slate and quartz) soils
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Grilled lamb chops with rosemary and roasted peppers
Álvaro Palacios arrived in Priorat in 1989 when the region was nearly abandoned, and his work reviving its ancient terraced vineyards on crumbling llicorella slate helped launch one of Spain's greatest wine renaissances.
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