Saturday, April 21, 2007

ALVARO PALACIOS LES TERRASSES PRIORAT - 2003


This Spanish red is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has an alcohol content of 14% and was aged in a mix of French and American oak. Alvaro Palacios trained at Chateau Petrus before creating his own Priorat in 1989.

TASTING NOTES:

Garnet red color with black cherry and wild berries on the nose. Thick and juicy with strawberry, cocoa, plum, oak, minerals and lots of tart cranberries and sour cherries on the finish. Smooth but with chewy tannins.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS
A very well made Spanish Priorat that is a good food wine. Pleasurable and solid all around but not showy. Retails for around $27 a bottle which is overpriced for what it has to offer. There are too many dynamic Spanish reds out there in this price range that are more satisfying.

posted by Winecentric at 9:49 AM

6 Comments:

  • If we look at the winemaker's name and we remember the usual prizes for La Ermita, we cab easily explain the prize of this second Palacio's label in Priorat county. It seems to me, in any case, that this 2003 issue it's the best Les Terrasses in many years (alt least three), with a weather, we have to remember it too, extremely difficult all over the Mediterranean vineyards, yes, but more difficult in the Priorat mountains. I have to say that I encourage friends to buy this 2003 at a usual prize (in Spain) of 18-20 euros and to keep the bottles in the cave not less than two more years.
    Cheers,
    Joan

    By Blogger Blog De Vinis, at Saturday, April 21, 2007 10:36:00 AM  

  • The wine, of coyrse, needs ,more bottle because of your well described "chewing tannins": at this moment, this is the only way to make them smoother.
    Joan

    By Blogger Blog De Vinis, at Saturday, April 21, 2007 10:39:00 AM  

  • But for slightly less, I can buy the Emilio Moro 2003!! I think I'm going to open that tonight with my Bobby Flay Potato Crusted Halibut in Mango-Carrot Habenero reduction sauce that I'm making.

    If I remember correctly, this wine is superior to the Palacios Priorat. Stay tuned for my review.

    By Blogger Winecentric, at Saturday, April 21, 2007 12:50:00 PM  

  • Yes, my friend, I'll stay tuned, but you are aware, sure you are, that Emilio Moro is made with tinta del país in a very different part from Spain, DO Ribera del Duero, without mountains (and the increase of production's prize produced by this horography) and with a larger production (more than 300.000 bottles).
    In any case, you are courageous putting together a halibut with this Emilio Moro 2003: I'll be certainly tuned, because I like red wines with fish too!

    By Blogger Blog De Vinis, at Saturday, April 21, 2007 2:05:00 PM  

  • Indeed. Although I'm comparing Spanish red wine value head-to-head. For the same mid $20 price, I think the Moro is superior...although maybe my taste memory is cloudy. Will find out tonight unless I'm persuaded by guests to open something else instead. Drinking a Pine Ridge Dijon Clones 2000 right now from the Wine Spectator's Top 100 list in 2002. Very buttered toffee extreme!

    By Blogger Winecentric, at Saturday, April 21, 2007 3:38:00 PM  

  • This third wine of the winery (after Ermita and Dofi) is usually very enjoyable accompanying food. I like it, but as you say Priorato is never cheap. This Las Terrasses is one of my favourite Prioratos, but there's strong competition at that price range in Spain, as you say.

    Enjoy your Emilio Moro!

    Regards,

    Sobre Vino

    By Blogger Sobre Vino, at Sunday, April 22, 2007 6:05:00 PM  

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