L'Ermita

2020 was a low-yielding year because of mildew, so there are only 1,441 bottles of the 2020 L'Ermita, which reflects the variability in the old Garnacha vines. It was produced with a blend of 92% Garnacha, 7% Cariñena and 1% Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo and PX. The difference between this and the 2020 Les Aubaguetes is the finesse and subtleness of L'Ermita and the class and quality of the tannins. L'Ermita carries the category of Gran Vinya Classificada, the top of the official vineyard classification in Priorat.

L'Ermita carries the "gran vinya classificada," the top of the official vineyard classification in Priorat, and the 2019 L'Ermita comes from 1.45 hectares planted in 1939 with Garnacha, Cariñena and white grapes. The grapes for the 2019 vintage—73% Garnacha, 26% Cariñena and 1% white grapes (Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo and Pedro Ximenez)—were picked between October 11th and 14th. The wine is close to 15% alcohol but has a low pH (freshness) from fermenting with 30% whole bunches in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and maturing in French oak casks for 14 months. Contrary to what I saw in many 2019s, this is higher in Cariñena than ever, but the grapes were all co-fermented in two 1,000-liter oak vats, and there is perfect integration of the varieties. There was an incredible richness of aromas here, perfumed, intoxicating and showy, an extroverted vintage, with a deeper voice than the 2018. There is incredible precision and finesse here, subtleness and elegance. The wine is compact, seamless and with incredible balance. It's both powerful and elegant, and there is energy and light, symmetry and clout. There are layers and layers here, with a spherical core, fresh and agile, all the things a great wine should have. It has an endless finish. Amazing! 2,070 bottles were filled in May 2021.

The bottled 2021 L'Ermita has lower alcohol than usual, 13.9% (the lowest ever!) and a pH of 3.31 with 5.62 grams of acidity. It fermented with 55% full clusters with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, with punching down of the cap and a maceration of 41 days. The wine matured in oval French oak foudres for 12 months. They had snow in January and then some rain in late August, and the ripeness was very slow. It's a very subtle year; surprisingly, it can be born from such arid and dry slate soils. It has delivered what the wine has always promised. It has a lot of energy and subtleness, and there's something ethereal about it, contained strength, harmonious, with watermelon freshness, notes of Mediterranean herbs and rockrose; and it has more elegant tannins than Finca Dofí. It's a velvety wine, with very contained wood (unnoticeable), very clean and precise. After one hour in the glass, it showed a lot more depth and complexity than Aubaguetes. This is another legendary vintage for l'Ermita. 2,925 bottles were filled the 13th of February 2023.