ALVARO PALACIOS Gratallops Red Blend 2014

Robert Parker Score: 92+ points

Reviewer: Luis Gutiérrez — 22728 Oct 2016

Drink 2016–2020

The red 2014 Gratallops is a "vi de vila" (a village wine), which is a category created in Priorat. Priorat has been a pioneer within the appellations of origin to start differentiating and defining origin in their wines. This is a blend of approximately 80% Garnacha and the rest Cariñena. All the plots used are mentioned on the label: Ermites, La Capella, Torrent, Coll del Corral, Socarrats, L’Hort de L’Olivar, La Font Nova, Carrerada, Coll de Falset, Obagues and Manyetes. It fermented in oak vat followed by malolactic and aging in barrique. This felt quite floral and open, aromatic and elegant, mixing flowers and Mediterranean herbs, and an earthy but subtle mineral sensation. The herbal sensation seems to grow with time in the glass. The palate is tasty, I guess the high acidity makes the wine long and amplifies the mineral/salty sensation in the finish. Agile and vertical, the abundant tannins seem sharpened by the acidity and it should benefit from some more time in bottle. 17,500 bottles were filled in April 2016.