Alvaro Palacios 2022 'Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes' Priorat DOCa

Alvaro Palacios 2022 'Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes' Priorat DOCa

Item Number: 21320

UPC: 8-429073023204

Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya
Sub Region: Priorat
Appellation/AVA: Priorat DOCa
Estate Grown Wine: No
Vintage: 2022
Grape(s): 60% Garnacha / 39% Cariñena / 1% White varieties
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 14.5
Viticulture: Practicing Biodynamic
Soil Type: Friable schist on steep, terraced slopes
Elevation: 200 to 600 meters

Vineyard Notes: Les Terrasses is made from estate grapes and selected lots of purchased old vine Garnacha and Cariñena. This wine is made from over 80 small parcels in 7 different villages throughout Priorat: Gratallops, La Vilella Baixa, Bellmunt, El Lloar, El Molar, Porrera and Torroja. Alvaro has long talked about how the early monks prized north-facing vineyards, but one more factor he’s been pursuing is the monks’ love of vineyards that capture the Garbinada – the afternoon sea breeze off the Mediterranean. These vineyards tend to thrive in many conditions including drought. Vine age is between 24 - 96 years old.

Winemaking Notes: Native yeast fermentation takes place in cement and wooden vats with both whole cluster and destemmed grapes. Aged for 12 months in large oak barrels (foudre and bocoyes). No fining or filtration.

Reviews

  • The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 93 (10/31/2025)
    This sleek, well-balanced red leads with a savory touch of mountain herbs, a subtle accent for flavors of ripe mulberry and black raspberry, backed by hints of iron, paprika, vanilla and white pepper. A firm frame of plush-textured tannins provide definition through the lingering finish. Garnacha and Samsó. Drink now through 2037. 10,000 cases made.
  • The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 93-95 (5/16/2024)
    I tasted this still-unbottled regional red in January 2024. The 2022 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes has grapes from 53 vineyards in seven villages, and in 2022, it was 60% Garnacha, 39% Cariñena and 1% white grapes, higher in Cariñena than in recent years in this extremely warm and dry year. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with part of full clusters, had a 41-day maceration and should spend some 12 months in French barriques and larger barrels. It's fully ripe at 14.5% alcohol while keeping a pH of 3.55 and 5.05 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter of wine), parameters of very good freshness. This is always a little earthier and with a beautiful touch of rusticity showing the character of Priorat. It's ripe without excess; all the 2022s show surprisingly fresh for such a warm and dry year. They expected to fill 113,000 bottles around March 2024.