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Ermita 2018Álvaro Palacios
Description of the Álvaro Palacios Winery
The Álvaro Palacios Estate is famous for its major contribution to the global reputation of Priorat, a Spanish wine region. Founded by Álvaro Palacios after his return from Bordeaux, this estate is recognized for its innovative winemaking practices and its commitment to quality and the unique expression of the terroir.
Description of the Cuvée l’Ermita
Álvaro Palacios' Ermita vintage is considered one of the most prestigious expressions of Priorat. Mainly composed of very old Grenache with a small proportion of Carignan, this cuvée comes from vineyards carefully selected for their ability to reflect the minerality and depth of the terroir. Meticulous aging in new French oak barrels contributes to its exceptional complexity and elegance.
Aromas of the Cuvée
Ermita offers a deep flavor profile with notes of black cherry, plum, and undertones of earth and minerals. Aromas of chocolate, coffee and Mediterranean herbs mingle with touches of balsamic and tobacco, creating a captivating olfactory complexity.
Characteristics of the Cuvée
- Grape variety: Mainly Grenache, with a small proportion of Carignan
- Profile: On the palate, the wine is powerful yet balanced, with a robust tannin structure and refreshing acidity that carries the intense flavors to a long, elegant finish.
- Aging Potential: Ermita is famous for its exceptional aging potential, capable of developing and gaining complexity over several decades in the cellar.
Pairings with this Cuvée
Perfect to accompany rich and flavorful dishes such as grilled red meats, game birds, or spicy and aromatic dishes. The intensity of Ermita also makes it an excellent partner for mature cheeses and dishes featuring truffles or wild mushrooms.
Where are we traveling?
PrioratSpain
Catalonia
The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, is Spain's second-largest city and home to one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. This seaside location has certainly benefited the region's wine sector throughout history, as have the millions of tourists who flock to the city every year. Catalonia is considered distinct from Spain's other wine regions because of the versatility of its wine styles. France has a strong influence on two of its best-known wines: sparkling Cava, made in the Champagne style, and its red table wines, which share characteristics with those from Roussillon, just across the Pyrenees. Unsurprisingly, given its location, Catalonia's climate is strongly Mediterranean, with warm coastal areas receiving moderate rainfall. The interior is more like the arid plateaux of central Spain, although there are many cooler areas in the foothills and on high sites where the grapes for Cava, the region's hallmark, are grown. These include Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo and some Chardonnay.
The sub-region: Priorat
Priorat is a small, dynamic wine region in Catalonia, north-eastern Spain, whose intense, full-bodied red wines have gained great renown in recent decades. Classic Priorat is made from old Garnacha and Carignan vines and shows concentrated aromas of liquorice, tar and brandied cherries. The climate is continental despite the relative proximity of the Mediterranean, and summers are long, hot and dry with very little rainfall. Spain's hot, dry vineyards are known for their low yields, but Priorat's vines yield five times less than the average. Yield is closely linked to quality: the lower the yields, the higher the quality. There are three main reasons for Priorat's very low yields: the climate, the nutrient-poor soils and the age of the vines.
The little history of the country
Spain
The history of wine in Spain is so old that no one really knows who brought the first vines to the region. When the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was well established and Spanish wines were widely marketed throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa.
You could say that Spain is a wine miracle. After years spent away from the world of fine wines, she is today a major player. Investment and ambition in the vineyards and cellars results in increasingly rich and complex (often very alcoholic) and spicy reds which are increasingly appreciated by international consumers.
Proud to have more land devoted to vines than any other country, Spain is only beginning to capitalize on this resource consistently. Spain is an anarchic tangle of regions and sub-regions, just as its landscape is an anarchic tangle of incredibly raw landscapes. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the soggy green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the toasty vineyards of southeastern the Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace, in terms of viticulture, is the average altitude of its vineyards, above 600 meters. A large part of Spanish vineyards therefore manage to produce grapes of good color and acidity simply because night temperatures are relatively low and the grapes do not ripen until the end of a sufficiently long growing period.
But there is real treasure to be found for those willing to dig and, now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all manner of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine . Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun making spectacular wines and experimenting with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Wine remains an important commodity and is an integral part of Spanish culture.
All about Ermita 2018
At what temperature should Ermita 2018 be served?
Between 15 and 17 °C.
How long can Ermita 2018 be kept?
Ageing potential: 10 years or more, until at least 2033. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Ermita 2018?
Grapes: Grenache, Carignan, Others. Origin: Priorat, Spain. Alcohol: 14.5%.