Álvaro Palacios Crafts One of Priorat’s Great Icons
L’Ermita, one of Priorat’s iconic wines
A Single-Vineyard Wine Among the World’s Great Benchmark Labels
L’Ermita 2024, by Álvaro Palacios, has earned 99 points in the 2026 Parker Guide, consolidating its status among the highest-rated wines of Priorat and the international scene. Crafted from a tiny vineyard in Gratallops, it stands as an essential reference point of Catalan viticulture.
Elegance, Depth, and the Pure Expression of Landscape
08/07/26
🍷L’Ermita is a wine that prioritizes the expression of place over sheer power. The blend is led primarily by Garnacha, complemented by Cariñena and a tiny percentage of other red varieties. Early tasting notes for the 2025 vintage describe an aromatic profile dominated by cherries, raspberries, and blackberries, accompanied by a silky texture and seamlessly integrated tannins.
Although this tasting note corresponds to the 2025 harvest, it reflects the stylistic direction the winery has consolidated in recent years—rooted in balance, precision, and the transparency of the landscape.
🥂🍽️ At the table, it pairs exquisitely with red meats, poultry, game, and traditional stews. It also harmonizes beautifully with contemporary Catalan cuisine, where the wine’s complexity engages in a dialogue with the ingredients without overpowering them.
Freshness, 14.5% ABV, and Served at 16 ºC
L’Ermita has an alcohol content of 14.5% and is best served at 16 ºC. For a wine of this stature, decanting or opening the bottle between thirty minutes and an hour before serving is recommended to allow its full aromatic complexity to unfold.
Production is extremely limited and varies with each harvest, making every vintage a highly sought-after prize for collectors and fine wine enthusiasts.
⭐️Gourmenials Recommendation: Beyond the high score, L’Ermita represents one of the finest expressions of contemporary Priorat. It stands out for its capacity to convey landscape, minerality, and the distinct personality of an exceptional vineyard, with an elegance that places it firmly among Catalonia’s greatest wines.
The 99 Parker Points 2026 awarded to the 2024 vintage reinforce a sustained trajectory of excellence and once again place L’Ermita among the most acclaimed wines in the world.
A Historic Vineyard in the Heart of Gratallops
L’Ermita comes from a single parcel located in Gratallops, situated between 400 and 500 meters above sea level. The vineyard spans 4.7 hectares with vines ranging between 85 and 105 years old. The soil is predominantly llicorella(slate), featuring a unique diagonal vein of sandstone that helps define the wine’s distinct character.
The blend for the 2025 vintage consists of 92% Garnacha, 7% Cariñena, and 1% other red varieties. The grapes are hand-harvested, and the wine is scheduled to age for 14 months in French oak casks (fudres), a decision that reinforces the expression of terroir and the purity of the fruit.
Álvaro Palacios describes L’Ermita as “the emotion of classicism”. This vision encapsulates a philosophy that seeks to mirror the territory with ultimate fidelity—an approach shared by a new generation of top Priorat winemakers focused on producing fresher, more precise, and gastronomically versatile wines.
GOURMENIALS+
