Les Aubaguetes 2017 is an exceptional red wine from the D.O.Ca. Priorat, rated 95 Parker points. The Les Aubaguetes label, with very limited production, is one of the new additions to the wine catalog of Álvaro Palacios. Crafted from a century-old vineyard, located on a hillside in the Bellmunt area.
General Information
Les Aubaguetes 2017 is crafted from old vines of garnacha and cariñena – complemented by other varieties – cultivated on a steep hillside in the Bellmunt area. Álvaro Palacios is one of the most renowned Spanish winemakers in the world. Born into one of the great winemaking dynasties of Rioja (the Palacios Remondo family) and trained in enology in Bordeaux, Álvaro was captivated by the complexity of the great historical regions of the neighboring country, with their multitude of small vineyards and exclusive wines tied to the concept of “terroir,” such as
At the age of 25, he returned to Spain determined to create a wine on par with the great classics, and resolved to seek vineyards with religious origins and old vines; special plots that could be transformed into a wine with an “overwhelming identity.” He set his sights on Priorat, an extreme land where he recognized the value hidden in those isolated old garnacha vines that had developed for centuries around the Scala Dei monastery, on steep slate-soil slopes.
Thus, Álvaro Palacios arrived in Gratallops in 1989, establishing the winery that bears his name. At that time, Priorat was a virtually abandoned region, and much of its resurgence is credited to the work of this visionary. Álvaro was one of the pioneers in reviving the historical wine area of Priorat, achieving worldwide recognition with his wines of robust structure and fresh minerality. L’Ermita, introduced in 1993, became a legend and the most expensive wine in Spain.
At the age of 25, he returned to Spain determined to create a wine on par with the great classics, and resolved to seek vineyards with religious origins and old vines; special plots that could be transformed into a wine with an “overwhelming identity.” He set his sights on Priorat, an extreme land where he recognized the value hidden in those isolated old garnacha vines that had developed for centuries around the Scala Dei monastery, on steep slate-soil slopes.
Thus, Álvaro Palacios arrived in Gratallops in 1989, establishing the winery that bears his name. At that time, Priorat was a virtually abandoned region, and much of its resurgence is credited to the work of this visionary. Álvaro was one of the pioneers in reviving the historical wine area of Priorat, achieving worldwide recognition with his wines of robust structure and fresh minerality. L’Ermita, introduced in 1993, became a legend and the most expensive wine in Spain.
The winery
Leader of the enological avant-garde in the nineties, Álvaro Palacios is the most famous of the daring winemakers who led Priorat to the pinnacle of the national wine scene.
Born in Alfaro (La Rioja) into a well-known local winemaking family – the Palacios Remondo – Álvaro Palacios decided in 1989 – at just 24 years old – to head to Priorat to prove that he could produce top-tier estate wines in the most promising wine region of the time. Not only did he succeed, but he also created a cult wine – L´Ermita – which introduced the world to llicorella, Priorat Garnacha, and the old vineyards surrounding Scala Dei.