L’Ermita 2025

L'Ermita is the leading wine of Álvaro Palacios in the D.O.Q. Priorat, made chiefly from Garnacha Tinta with a little Cariñena and a few white varieties. The fruit comes from a plot of just over two hectares in the village of Gratallops, planted on slate soils with very old vines between seventy five and a hundred years old. These ancient vines yield tiny crops of intensely flavoured fruit, while the slate licorella drains sharply and pushes roots deep for water, concentrating the wine and carrying a clear mineral signature. The steep slopes and altitude give a wide diurnal range that preserves freshness and aromatic detail in a warm climate. The wine ages eighteen months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood rounds the tannins and adds spice and structure without masking the fruit. The colour is deep red. The nose is intense and layered, with ripe red fruits, dark cherry, liquorice and a smoky, stony depth. The palate is full and finely structured, with concentrated fruit, polished tannins and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant well ahead. It suits roast game, beef and lamb.