Finca Dofí 2021

Finca Dofí is a well-known name in modern viticulture in the Priorat and a reference point that has given Álvaro Palacios his name all over the world. It is a great introduction to the great wines made by this renowned oenologist.

Finca Dofí wine comes from two plots of land and a single vineyard called Finca Dofí, which was named after Álvaro Palacios who landed in the Priorat at the end of the 1980s with another great winemaker, René Barbier, with whom he continued to train. Together with Carles Pastrana, Josep Lluís Pérez and Daphne Glorian, he began his quest to produce fine, elegant wines with character in the French style, which have made the region one of the most important producers of quality wine in the world. Álvaro Palacios was taken under the tutelage of René Barbier and became his "Delfín" (Dofí in Catalan), which is the French title given to the first in line for the throne. This is the origin of the name of this great Priorat wine, which is the first wine in a range produced by this renowned oenologist.

The grapes used to make Finca Dofí come from plots planted on terraces and steep slopes facing north-east, south-east and east with soils made up of siliceous slates rich in minerals (licorella) and with an optimum pH. The age of the vines varies between 13 and 33 years and they are cultivated according to the principles of organic farming.

When they enter the winery, the bunches are completely de-stemmed and the grapes are carefully pressed to start the fermentation, which takes place with indigenous yeasts, in wooden vats and with periodic pump-overs. The wine undergoes spontaneous malolactic fermentation in wooden containers and matures in bocoys and foudres for about 16 months, depending on the vintage.

Finca Dofí is a red wine made mostly from the Garnacha variety, with a touch of Cariñena and 1% of white grapes (Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo). It is produced by the Álvaro Palacios winery in the DO Q. Priorat in Gratallops, Catalonia.