Winemakers Notes
Alvaro Palacios, the heritage of old world viticulture Descendant of a 4 generation of wine producers, the passion of wine runs in Alvaro Palacios blood. At a time when Spain was known for its branded wines, Alvaro Palacios was driven by a greater “wine grower” vision. He wanted to make a wine that embodies its specific terroir, he wanted to Make Great Classic Wines .Convinced that in the Old World, you should do what it was done by the Ancestors, Alvaro Palacios began to seek a unique place with a legendary wine past, a mystic atmosphere, a century-old vineyards and preserved ancestral winegrowing traditions. His search led him to Priorat, in Catalonia, where the Garnacha is the historical queen variety, and it was a revelation to him. Today, his organically farmed vineyard is planted on cool slate soils. Located on steep slopes, it is a constellation of tiny and very demanding plots of very old vines. Guided by the wisdom of the past and his deep respect for Nature, he has worked tirelessly to produce one of today most iconic wines in Spain. Les Aubaguetes, an old north-facing vineyard A steep coster covering 1.79 hectares, planted at the beginning of the 20th century, historically acknowledged for its qualities. Planted on blueish llicorella soils, it is surrounded by holm oaks, pine trees and French lavender plants. The force of the Mediterranean and the cool northerly breeze find here a remarkable balance. The prodigious maturity of this enclave is what drives us to make a new wine: fleshy, wholesome, joyous, with opulent tannins and oozing liquid elegance. The 2021 vintage - a historic year One name will forever be associated with the first weeks of 2021: Filomena. Thas was the name given by the international meteorological services to the snow and ice storms that affected a large part of the Iberian peninsular. In the vineyards in Priorat, the snowfall started on the 9th January and more than 50cm accumulated over three days. After Filomena's icy blast, a noticeable change in weather happened. The vines had enjoyed the snow, but now they were facing drought as rainfall was extremely scarce. Finally, rains and considerable rise in temperatures happened in May. The Summer was mild with maximum temperatures that on many days did not rise above 30 degrees. Dry, mild with contrasts in light. A summer of endless delight. The lack of heat slowed down the development of the grapes. Therefore team had to watch the ripening of the fruit and the weather constantly. A fresh, moderate and dry vintage pulses through the magic wines of 2021. Rounded and subtle, shining examples of the precision and bravery of the mother vines during a time of sobriety. They are wines of subtle emotion, wines that shine like stars.