Alvaro Palacios Priorat 'Les Aubaguetes' 2019

97 POINTS: Robert Parker
96 POINTS: James Suckling

“The 2019 Les Aubaguetes comes from a 1.55-hectare plot of very old vines in the process of being classified as "gran vinya classificada," and in 2019, the wine is a blend of 74% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 1% white grapes, Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak casks for 14 months. This is probably the most backward of the 2019s, perhaps a little different from the rest of the 2019s, as the percentage of Cariñena here is more or less the same as in previous years, while in the other wines it tends to be quite a bit lower. The Cariñena was not as affected by the heat as the others because there is a lot of shadow (that's what the wine's name means in the Catalan language); the sun disappears at 10 in the morning (!), and the yields were similar to previous years. So, there's something darker and earthier here, a wine more marked by Cariñena and the very dark slate from the soils. There are some grainy tannins, again a different texture from the rest of 2019s. But again, there is great balance, and it's perhaps the more traditional Priorat in the range. 2,543 bottles were filled in May 2021.”
—97/100: Robert Parker

“A very fresh and floral red with blackberries, minerals and crushed cloves with some slate and white pepper. Medium body, fine tannins and a bright, energetic finish. Complex and refined. Drink in 2023, but already beautiful.”
—96/100: James Suckling

One of Spain’s most important and influential producers, Alvaro Palacios is making stunning wines in Priorat and Bierzo. They’re expensive, yes, but they’re thrilling with it.

ABV: 14.5%