2009 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2009 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses Velle Vignes is a beauty! An old vine blend coming from steep, north facing plots, it delivers a classic array of smoky blackberries, cassis, spice cabinet, crushed flowers, hints of oak, and gorgeous minerality on the nose. Fresh and lively, yet also rich and powerful, this hits the palate with a medium to full-bodied, polished texture, integrated acidity, and an overall refined, elegant feel. Despite the relatively low price, this can age. Give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar, and then drink over the following 10-12+ years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Bright ruby-red. Powerful aromas of cherry and blackberry, with alluring floral and mineral notes and a light suggestion of licorice. Full, fleshy dark berry liqueur flavors are lifted by a zesty mineral note and gain energy with air. Taut and focused on the finish, showing an exotic hint of sweet, cured tobacco.
The 2009 Les Terrasses displays a lovely nose of exotic spices, black fruits, and liquid minerals. It offers greater depth, aging potential, and length than the 2008. Alvaro Palacios established his namesake winery in 1989. The flagship L’Ermita made its debut in 1993. Finca Dofi and L’Ermita vineyards are farmed biodynamically. All of the wines are bottled without filtration. In 2008 Palacios was the last grower in Priorat to harvest, waiting out rains that diluted other growers’ fruit. It appears that 2009 was a slightly more successful vintage for Alvaro Palacios (and most Priorat producers) than was 2008. All of the 2009s were tasted from barrel samples at the Bodega in January 2011. Importer: Mannie Berk, The Rare Wine Company, Sonoma, CA; tel. (800) 999-4342; www.rarewineco.com