| Type | Red wine |
|---|---|
| Region | |
| Grapes | |
| Producer | |
| Allergens | Contains sulfites |
| Alcohol contenti | 14.5% |
| Production | 20,000 - 30,000 bottles |
Finca Dofí
2022The first Álvaro Palacios wine in the Priorat
95-97
PARKER
Spec sheet
The wine
The first wine to originate from the winery of Álvaro Palacios in the Priorat made an appearance in 1989 and was called Clos Dofí. Back then, that bold new red wine started what would become the great wine-making revolution in the Catalan region. On the capsule of every bottle is written “Personalitat única” (unique personality), something which hasn’t changed. What has altered, however, is the name of the wine: from 1994 onwards, Clos Dofí became known as Finca Dofí and generally called simply Dofí. It was the first and continues to be one of the great wines from Álvaro Palacios and from the whole region.
What does this wine taste like?
Its fragrance is more discreet and refined than that of Gratallops, another of the magnificent red wines produced by Álvaro Palacios in the Priorat. On the nose, it’s all smoothness and elegance, the scent of fleshy grapes, whereas on the palate, it exhibits weightiness, complexity and depth on a truly amazing scale. Its mouthfeel is perfectly defined by an exceptional structure cemented in tannins, which might well bring to mind a superb Barolo, encased in wonderful, juicy fruit. Thanks to its directness and transparency, the warm minerality of the slate-quartz soils and the earthy dust come through in every sip. There’s hardly a trace of oak, and it’s true to say, this wine doesn’t appear to have any flaws at all. Finca Dofí is rounded and exuberant, yet it doesn’t renounce the restrained acidity which imbues it with vivacity and enables it to flow through the mouth with thrilling fluidity.
| Light | Bold | |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth | Tannic | |
| Dry | Sweet | |
| Soft | Acidic |
Drinking and storing
It will show itself to perfection in a glass that has a sufficiently wide bowl and is fairly closed at the top, not allowing its aromas an easy escape.
It has 10-12 years of life ahead, following on from its vintage date, although it’s probably at its very best after 5 or 6 years.
Food pairing
Thanks to its fine-grained tannins and its outstanding balance, Finca Dofí is a very versatile red as regards food pairing. Roast lamb, roasted or grilled vegetables can make perfect partners.
Ratings and awards
| 2023 | 95-97 PK | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 95-97 PK | |||
| 2021 | 96+ PK | |||
| 2020 | 96 PK | 95 SK | ||
| 2019 | 97 PK | 96 PN | 96 SK | |
| 2018 | 96+ PK | 96 PN | 94 SK | 93 WS |
PK: ParkerPN: PeñínSK: SucklingWS: Wine
spectator
Wine critics reviewsReviews by Parker and Parker
Customer reviews
Winemaking
The grapes are usually picked during the second half of September, with the end of harvest time extending well into October some years. Garnacha is always the predominant grape (80-90%), and the remainder is divided between Cariñena (8-12%) and a few clusters of white grapes (1%), such as Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo.
After the harvest, the grapes are destemmed, given a gentle press and left to ferment with native yeasts in wooden vats where they undergo periodic stirrings. Ageing that lasts for 14-20 months takes place in large French oak vats.
| Ageing period | Between 14 and 20 months |
|---|---|
| Type of wood | French oak |
Vineyards
Finca Dofí
| Vine age | Between 20 and 35 years |
|---|---|
| Soil | Llicorella |
| Climate | Mediterranean |
| Orientation | North |
| Surface area | 14.00 hectares |
| Altitude | 300.00 meters |
The winery
Álvaro Palacios
Álvaro Palacios came to the Priorat in 1989, to the town of Gratallops to be precise, following the lead of a group of local producers fully intending to pass on through their wines all the character of this land, full of its own brightness, with the shining Mediterranean sun, the gleaming slate in rocky crags, and brightly-coloured fennel in the olive groves. This is mystic, spiritual country tracing back its past to the Carthusian monks, who worked at cultivating vines...
