Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi Priorat 2021 (750ML)

96+ WA / 96 JS / 95 WS / 94 VM / 17+ JR

#46 James Suckling's Top 100 Spanish Wines of 2023

I tasted the bottled 2021 Finca Dofí, which comes from the 16 hectares that spread across the lieux-dits of La Baixada, Coll de Falset and Camp d'en Piqué. It was made with 88% Garnacha, 9% Cariñena, 2% Picapoll and 1% white grapes fermented with 40% full clusters in oak vats and indigenous yeasts and matured in oval foudres and large barrels for 14 months. It's bright and subtle, with great freshness and elegance, a new face of Dofí, multilayered and harmonious, fine-boned and with very elegant tannins. The strength here is the palate, which is seamless and with more depth. 28,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2023.—Luiz Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate

Scented, delineated nose but has depth, too. It effuses wet-stone minerality that gives a thin overlay to the red and blue berries. Some spices, briar and hibiscus, too. Juicy and medium- to full-bodied on the palate, which is a little more vertical and powerful than many of Palacios’ reds, highlighted by real tension and tautness here. Goes on and on. Drink or hold.—James Suckling

A silky weightlessness and overall sense of finesse belies the pinpoint focus and tension on display in this vibrant red. A frame of taut, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity drive this wine's vervy energy while providing a well-meshed, sculpted frame. Offers aromas and flavors of crushed raspberry, Earl Grey tea leaf and tar, plus hints of rose hip, vanilla and graphite that echo on and on through the long finish. Garnacha and Samsó. Best from 2026 through 2040. —Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator

The 2021 Finca Dofí is a blend of Garnatxa, Cariñena and dashes of other grapes, sourced from Gratallops in Priorat. This purple wine offers an intense fruit expression of pomegranate and elder, with an herbal undertone. Dry, compact and concentrated, the palate is full of sun energy and supported by a juicy mouthfeel. This velvety red boasts the archetypical fine-grained, reactive tannins of Priorat.-Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Media

Less overtly fragrant than Álvaro's Valmira Rioja tasted beforehand. Dense on the palate but with vibrant acidity that prevents it becoming too thick-set. Granular tannins that have a long way to go to reach maturity. The red fruit is still very compact and un-luscious – perhaps that reflects the hard slate terroir. Plenty of time is needed. --Richard Hemming MW, Jancis Robinson