“The Finest Dofi to Date”: Alvaro Palacios 2016
Posted on: 01/30/19 6:47 PM
In Spain, few can compare to the legendary Alvaro Palacios.
Mr. Palacios’s Priorats, alongside Pingus, are regarded by critics and collectors as the pinnacle of greatness that Spanish wine can achieve. Why? While it is easy in Spain, and particularly in Priorat, to achieve intoxicating power and ripeness, Mr. Palacios learned early on (perhaps during his stint at Petrus) that a wines most important expression is not its intensity of fruit but its singular expression of its vineyard. In a recently published interview Mr. Palacios explains, “In Spain, we are blessed with old vines and plenty of sun. Power comes very easily to us.” He continues: “But, what is it that makes the great wines of France so revered? Their esteem comes from their equilibrium and their distinctive personalities. There is no other wine in the world that tastes like Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne, or Petrus, or La Tâche. It’s the intensity of personality that makes those wines so great.” Needless to say, but Mr. Palacios was onto something. His wines are stunning achievements. And to just add one more ring, in 2015 he was awarded Decanter’s Man of the Year.
2016, a historic vintage across Europe, has garnered unbelievably high expectations for Palacios. The good news? Like Tom Brady, in the face of such pressure, Palacios unequivocally delivered on the goods. Intense, pure and incredibly long, both wines offered today are simply show stoppers. We’re very lucky to offer what many–including us–believe to be one of greatest vintages ever produced by the estate. One of Spain’s ultimate producers from one of the most historic vintages in the last twenty years? I think it’s a safe bet you should experience this.
2016 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes Priorat
“The still unbottled sample of the Garnacha and Cariñena blend 2016 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes has vibrant acidity in a warm year when ripening stopped as the vines blocked and stopped producing sugar and maintained the acidity. The grapes were small because the year had also been very dry. It’s juicy and with good ripeness and some dusty tannins, reminiscent of the dusty roads among the vineyards of Priorat along with that decomposed slate. There will be 116,000 bottles of the 2016.” 92-94 Points, Wine Advocate
2016 Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi Priorat
“I also previewed the 2016 Finca Dofí, which has vibrant acidity and more freshness than the 2015. It’s a wine that really stands out among the 2016s—explosive and long, with concentration and elegance. This could very well become the finest Dofí to date. Drink now-2028.” 95-97 Points, Wine Advocate
Back to Blog