2023 Alvaro Palacios Les Aubaguetes

The 2023 Álvaro Palacios Les Aubaguetes is a rare and highly coveted single-vineyard Priorat, crafted from some of the region’s oldest hillside vines. This is a profound, terroir-driven red that captures the wild beauty of Priorat with remarkable finesse and energy. Les Aubaguetes sits at the very top of the Álvaro Palacios portfolio, offering collectors and enthusiasts a deeply expressive, ageworthy wine from one of Spain’s most acclaimed winemakers.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2023 Les Aubaguetes shows a deep, vibrant ruby core with garnet highlights, reflecting both concentration and freshness. The nose is layered and complex, with aromas of wild red and black berries, ripe cherry and plum, intertwined with notes of Mediterranean garrigue, dried herbs, licorice, underbrush, and a subtle mineral smokiness from the slate soils. Hints of violets, cacao, and sweet spice emerge with air, giving an impression of both power and refinement. On the palate, the wine is structured yet incredibly polished, with fine, silky tannins supporting a core of pure, sweet-fruited Garnacha character, likely complemented by the darker, more savory tones of Cariñena and other traditional local varieties. Expect a full-bodied mouthfeel that remains precise and lifted, driven by fresh acidity and a pronounced saline-mineral backbone. Flavors of blackberry, red cherry, blood orange peel, and graphite unfold gradually, leading to a long, persistent finish with echoes of spice and stony depth. While already showing stunning aromatic detail in youth, the 2023 Les Aubaguetes is built for long-term cellaring and should evolve beautifully over 12–20 years, gaining further complexity and nuance.

Production
Les Aubaguetes is sourced from a historic, north-facing vineyard in the village of Bellmunt del Priorat, rooted in classic llicorella (decomposed slate) soils that give Priorat its signature intensity and mineral edge. The old vines—predominantly Garnacha with a proportion of Cariñena and possibly a small field blend of other native grapes—are farmed meticulously, often by hand, due to the steep, terraced slopes. Low yields and careful selection at harvest ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy fruit is used. In the cellar, Álvaro Palacios follows a sensitive, detail-driven approach: gentle extraction, fermentation in small vats, and aging in carefully chosen oak (often large-format or used barrels) to preserve purity of fruit and express the vineyard’s character rather than overt wood. The result is a wine that speaks clearly of its site—both powerful and finely etched.

Food & Serving
This is a serious gastronomic red that shines alongside rich, flavorful dishes: think slow-braised lamb shoulder, beef short ribs, game birds, or venison with rosemary and thyme. It also pairs beautifully with Iberian pork, grilled ribeye, wild mushroom ragù, and aged hard cheeses like Manchego or Comté. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in large-bowled glasses to allow the wine to open fully. Decanting is highly recommended, especially in its youth: give it at least 1–2 hours before serving to let the aromatics expand and the tannins soften, or longer if you prefer a more evolved, harmonized profile.

Producer
Álvaro Palacios is one of Spain’s most influential and visionary winemakers, a driving force behind the modern renaissance of Priorat. After gaining experience at Château Pétrus in Bordeaux, he returned to Spain in the late 1980s and helped transform Priorat from an obscure, rugged region into one of the world’s most prestigious wine appellations. His single-vineyard wines, including icons like L’Ermita and Les Aubaguetes, have become benchmarks for Mediterranean reds, consistently earning top scores and international acclaim. Working with steep, old-vine parcels and llicorella soils, Palacios focuses on precision farming, low yields, and site-specific expression, cementing his estate as a reference point not only in Priorat, but in the broader landscape of Spanish fine wine.

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