Gratallops Vi de Vila, Alvaro Palacios 2021

The village red 2021 Gratallops was produced with a blend of 74% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 1% white grapes (Garnacha Blanca , Macabeo and PX) from different vineyards they own in Gratallops on llicorella slate soils. It fermented with 40% full clusters and matured in French oak foudres and large barrels for 14 months. It has 14.5% alcohol and a low pH of 3.34, keeping good acidity. The vintage was magic, with a spectacular snow storm in January. The wine is elegant, polished after the élevage. This is possibly the finest vintage of Gratallops, with a similar profile to the rest of 2021s, perhaps a little riper, quite fruit-driven, with warmth and freshness and very good overall balance. It develops notes of honey and beeswax with time in the glass. 17,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2023.

The blend of the 2021 Gratallops was higher in Cariñena than in the 2020 (25%), which resulted in a wine with a lower pH (3.37), the tendency that makes the 2021s more vibrant. They used some 40% full clusters for the fermentation (rather than adding the stems like in the past). The wine has acid berry freshness; and right now it's a bit difficult with the tannins and the acidity, but one more year of élevage should make it more polished. It should be long-lived and fresh. The expect some 17,300 bottles to be filled around April 2023.