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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.1 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 55 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by winemaker on 8/28/2022 & rated 93 points: Last bottle. Delicious and complete. Enjoyed with rack of lamb. (481 views) | | | Tasted by wormfarmer on 6/21/2021 & rated 90 points: Last bottle of a long-ago purchase! Didn't know what I was saving it for but am glad I did. Was initially a bit dumb and fruitalicious out of the bottle, but decanted and observed it as it settled into itself 30 minutes in, with lots of mellow life to it. Dark black and bright red fruits, well-integrated tannins, satiny palate. Not a shy wine, ABV-wise, but didn't present as hot or blowsy, and has aged nicely. Went great with brisket and ribs. (905 views) | | | Tasted by pilatus88 on 5/14/2021 & rated 92 points: Dark Cherry red color. Lots of dark plum but also a fresh hint of apple on the nose. Creamy and concentrated in the mouth. Dark plum and pomegranate with cloves and woody notes. Harmonic and elegant long finish. Lovely wine and i am happy I kept my last bottle lying a few years. (883 views) | | | Tasted by winemaker on 2/8/2021 & rated 95 points: Fantastic wine. Fully mature. Savory, complex and long. I paid $32 for this back on release and it has always been a pleasure, but this bottle was complete. This wine really shows you what old vine Carignan can do! (1051 views) | | | Tasted by johnnyo on 7/1/2020 & rated 93 points: Delicious! (1259 views) | | | Tasted by bugdoced on 9/22/2018 & rated 90 points: a good young wine hitting it's stride
very different from my last taste in 2014 (1628 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 9/8/2018 & rated 89 points: Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind Spanish Wine (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind in Spanish tasting. Ripe black cherry comes across as slightly jammy with burly tannins. Still a bit oaky for now. Most likely upside from here. (2119 views) | | | Tasted by hebill on 4/8/2018 & rated 92 points: Really nice example of a more elegant priorat. Full of bright red fruit, with some slate and baking spice. Lighter body than expected with fine tannins. Nice level of acidity. Will be interesting to see in 4-5 years. (1940 views) | | | Tasted by winemaker on 3/12/2018 & rated 92 points: PnP. 100% old vine carignane. First aromas are wood and muted red fruits. With air the wood notes dissipate. Looks extracted, modern and plush. The taste however is not overly extracted. This is quite harmonious. No noticeable wood in the mouth. This is in its peak drinking window. Subtle red fruit and some savory notes. Easy to drink. (1766 views) | | | Tasted by winemaker on 5/18/2017 & rated 94 points: Decanted for 4 hours before consumption. Some oak influence is still present, but this was just delicious with grilled lamb. Rich and layered. This is a beautiful Carignane. Pretty darn complex. Stunningly beautiful! (2193 views) | | | Tasted by Italiana on 4/28/2017: Soft. Sweet ripe fruit still tasty. Pretty good value. (1660 views) | | | Tasted by Italiana on 4/22/2017: Dark red. Rich and well-rounded. Drinking well now. (1641 views) | | | Tasted by PeterMadrid on 11/23/2016 & rated 90 points: Beyond its prime and with mild signs of getting old, but still a nice nose and pleasant taste. Went well with the mature beef we had as main dish. I hesitated between low excellent and high very good, finally went for the former. (1556 views) | | | Tasted by wormfarmer on 1/31/2016 & rated 91 points: 90/91. What a difference a year or two has made here. No longer tastes as modern, seems more about the purity of the fruit now. Still took an hour or so, minimum, for it to settle down, blow off, compose itself, etc. Married itself well to our steaks. (2319 views) | | | Tasted by David J Cooper on 6/12/2015 & rated 91 points: Medium dark red. Nice dark fruit and some tar. Earthy flavours and a dry finish. (2601 views) | | | Tasted by Sijan on 5/19/2015: A bit past its prime, but still good - lots of tertiary notes. Mild & subtle, very old world. Would be good w/ fall food. (2547 views) | | | Tasted by jonathanwilliam on 3/31/2015 & rated 92 points: Fine, yet rich. Smoky, leathery vanilla flavours, with lovely dark fruit. Lively and with wonderful mineral notes without being over the top. (2748 views) | | | Tasted by Fatty Cat on 12/4/2014 & rated 85 points: Early Dec 2014: not decanted; black violet ink; no nose!; flavors in the mouth: next to nothing; full body; smooth texture.
What was going on? My mother-in-law agreed to my findings (this doesn't happen very often). My father-in-law said the wine was ok for him (he bought the bottle). Which opinion do you choose?
Maybe just some decanting would have helped. My father-in-law isn't a fan of this procedure. (550 views) | | | Tasted by bugdoced on 6/28/2014 & rated 90 points: day 1 :angry out of the bottle;not well integrated
day 2:more settled with dark fruit shining through
day3: plums sour cherries and earthy richness
will hold on the next bottle for a year or so (3635 views) | | | Tasted by pipedream on 5/2/2014 & rated 88 points: A little dissapointing given prestige of the winemaker... (2860 views) | | | Tasted by pigdaddy on 2/8/2014 & rated 89 points: decanted one hour. purple-red; anise & warm black stones on nose w/cedar closet & wood fire; med/++ bodied; black licorice, dense dark plummy fruit under more dominant black minerals, still noticeable tannins & substantial acids. having bought this wine in several vintages ('04 - '07), yet to see it reach a completely resolved mature state, so can't predict the time line on this particular bottle. seems to be well-balanced, structure is there, so will give remainders several more years to develop. showed a particularly savory component complementary to dinner.
harissa & buttermilk-marinated roasted chicken thighs; red onion, pumpkin, sweet potato & brussel sprouts roasted with spanish chorizo & sherry vinegar (2533 views) | | | Tasted by alfagirl on 2/7/2014 & rated 90 points: Tried this for the first time when I lived in Madrid. Continues to be one of my favourites. Dark berries. Smooth and full bodied. Lovely. (2443 views) | | | Tasted by pilatus88 on 2/2/2014 & rated 91 points: An excellent wine. Full nose of red fruit and cedar. Peppery explosion on the palate with a long full finish of red berries and balanced acidity. It has the character of a very good Sangiovese. This could be enjoyed now but i am eager to see if it gets even better in the next couple of years. (2242 views) | | | Tasted by wormfarmer on 3/24/2013 & rated 87 points: This is an exceedingly pleasant 87, and one that seems bound for 90-92 in 3-10 years' time. The alcohol has just begun to blow off, 3 hours open. Dark fruit, some black pepper. Great tannins that will silken with time. Rimmerman went out of his way to emphasize Palacios' decision to eschew new oak- could have fooled me, at this point, as the oak comes through in spades for me (not in a bad way, but I would throw it into a decidedly New World camp). Nice medium to heavy body; not much in the way of finish. (3447 views) | | | Tasted by Fatty Cat on 1/26/2013 & rated 90 points: Late Jan 2013: dark purple color; blackberry, cherry, vanilla; plenty of alcohol; full body; smooth texture. (461 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (12/7/2010)
(Álvaro Palacios, Les Terrasses Velles Vynes Priorat Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Back to France, Issue #3 (2/1/2010)
(Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, September/October 2009, IWC Issue #146
(Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes Priorat) Subscribe to see review text. |  By Gary Vaynerchuk
Wine Library TV, Spanish and Argentinean Wine Tasting with a Special Guest, Episode #968 (1/14/2011)
(Palacios Les Terrasses) #3; VaynerPAZZZ; COLOR-dark; NOSE-a chemically Fabreze element; some bright blackberries; big wine; more New World; PALATE-this is a young wine; it's solid, there's a delicious factor and well made, but a hair uninspired; a little too textbook and nothing stands out (like white bread); it's good, but boring; JR-91; GV-88 88 points | By Jon Rimmerman
Garagiste (3/2/2010)
(LES TERRASSES Alvaro Palacios) Palacios Dear Friends, This is a beautiful wine that deserves our attention - it ushers in a new style for Priorat that will be much admired by those that lean toward Chambolle-Musigny as their benchmark. If you collect village-level red Burgundy in the $30 range, this wine should be high on your list...and it doesn't contain a single ounce of Pinot Noir. As has become the trend throughout Europe, new oak use is on the decline (much to the chagrin of the coopers). While much of this is due to changing palate preferences, it's also due to a symbiotic set of circumstances dictated by the economic times - barrels are expensive and it's far less costly to use old oak or keep your wine in tank. While "cheaper", this no-oak trend has forced vintners to work even harder. Why? Without the new wood, their wine has to be better. New oak can cover the flaws in wine (especially red wine) and tank fermented examples raised in old oak must be at their best or it is eventually discernible in the nose and on the palate. Enter Alvaro Palacios - keen for a challenge and ready to lead the way in Priorat as he has done for the last two decades. If more transparent and fresher wine (with lower alcohol levels) are elements his customers desire, he has just the wine - a new wine (with an old name) never before produced - the 2007 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes. Previously, the Les Terrasses was Palacios' entry level Priorat from younger vines - not anymore. In 2007, this wine has been transformed to a smaller production blend of old vine fruit fermented completely in tank (unlike Finca Dofi and l'Ermita which are fermented in new oak). He also decided to raise the wine in 80-90% older oak, with only a small amount of new wood depending on the vintage. Of equal or greater importance to consumers (and what makes this wine intriguing from a market perspective), was his next decision - to keep the wine at half the price of the Finca Dofi - even though this wine is every bit the equal of the Dofi, just a different expression. The temptation to throw another $60 cuvee on the world stage was certainly there but, at this price, this is a potential game-changing wine for Priorat. It ushers in a new style and pricing philosophy that should prove to be one of the most intelligent two-step marketing moves the region has witnessed: give the people the best you have (at a fair price from the get-go) and they will support you. With the 2007 Terrasses Velles Vinyes, Palacios hopes to deliver world-class quality at about the same tariff as a base Chateauneuf-du-Pape or villages Burgundy from the Cotes de Nuits - I can say with certainty, he has succeeded beyond what most would have imagined. I've never been a big fan of this winery but this example has changed my opinion. From a majority of Carignan (Carinena) with the remainder Grenache (Garnacha) and a small amount of Cabernet and Syrah (I believe less than 5%), this wine teems with personality and its distinctive Burgundy meets Priorat character appears more suited for Allen Meadows (or Tanzer) than previous foxtrots with other US critics. Downright sophisticated in its delivery of gorgeous fruit and structure, this Bonnes-Mares-like example combines the magic and mystery of a great Burgundy with the intensity and elegant structure of Priorat. A top-level success that should age for 10-15 years without issue: VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for a new style (and pricing philosophy) in a region teetering on the brink of pricing themselves out of the world market. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price: 2007 Alvaro Palacios "Les Terrasses" Velles Vinyes (this is not the "Camins del Priorat" - that wine is the new entry-level/young vine cuvee in place of the old Terrasses - confused yet?!) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Spain2379 |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and JebDunnuck.com and Vinous and Wine Library TV and Garagiste. (manage subscription channels) |
| Alvaro Palacios Producer website2007 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses Velles VinyesLes Terrasses is a blend of 60% Carignena, 30% Garnacha and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, with a high proportion of the blend coming from very old vines. After malolactic fermentation, the wine spends 12 months in a mixture of new and old French oak barrels to soften and provide character.Carignan Blend50% Mourvèdre 30% Carignan 20% GrenacheSpain Vinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | Wikipedia
Wine Map on weinlagen-info
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net
Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info.Catalunya Map on weinlagen-infoPrioratAbout 100 kilometers from Barcelona, Priorat originated as a distinct recognized wine region in 1932, and was approved in 1954.
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