Alvaro Palacios : L'Ermita 2023

A Gran Vinya Classificada and a joy from beginning to end, with a glorious future ahead. It's often difficult to approach the greats with a fair mind, but L'Ermita charms from the first. The aromas are delightfully floral, laden with redcurrants and tangerine peel, plus wild herbs and white flowers. Nothing is overdone here – it's so elegant. In the mouth it's fresh and crisp with abundant red cherries, run through with the savoury, mineral notes of the terroir. The tannins add fine texture and grain. A superbly long finish. This really is a wine to meditate over.

Very good depth for a rather delicate, nuanced red from a blisteringly hot and dry year, showing violets, ripe strawberries, blueberries, sweet spices and minerals on the nose. A touch of white pepper as well. The extraction must have been kept low to keep the finesse and fine-grained tannins. Fine mineral tension in the middle. Drink from 2027.