Region and Vineyards
L'Ermita sits on precipitous llicorella (laminar schist) above Gratallops in the heart of Priorat, at 350-430 metres with north and east exposures that temper Mediterranean sun. The 4.7-hectare Grand Cru-equivalent Gran Vinya Classificada parcel is organically farmed, mulched and worked by mule, preserving fragile slate soils rich in magnesium and iron. In 2022, just 2.28 hectares were selected for L'Ermita, maintaining a stringent focus on purity and finesse. Rainfall was a scant 359 mm, underscoring the site's low-yield, high-character profile.
Vines here include centenarian Garnacha and Cariñena with scattered old white vines. Planted in 1909, 1939 and 1996, and trained as bush vines, they give minute crops (around 17 hl/ha) of intensely flavoured berries. The parcel's diagonal vein of micro-conglomerates and the amphitheatre's exposure contribute the wine's signature saline line and cool, stone-etched finish—hallmarks that place L'Ermita among Spain's most expressive single vineyards.
Winemaking
The 2022 blend is 92% Garnacha, 7% Cariñena and 1% field-blended white varieties (Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez). Harvested 1 October 2022, grapes were partly destemmed and partly fermented as whole clusters with native yeasts in wooden vats, followed by 23 days' maceration with gentle punch-downs. Malolactic occurred spontaneously in wood.
Élevage was 14 months in oval French-oak foudres; the wine was neither fined nor filtered. Bottled at 14.5% vol., total production was approximately 4,707 bottles (plus large formats). The precision of selection—only a portion of the 4.7-ha vineyard—helps explain the wine's remarkable delicacy and definition in a warm, dry year.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Deep ruby with a shimmering, violet hue; limpid yet saturated at the core.
- Aroma: Red cherry, mulberry and wild strawberry layered with rose, thyme and bay; graphite dust, blood orange peel and a cool, ferrous slate note rising with air.
- Palate: Silken entry, medium-plus body and ultra-fine, chalk-slate tannins; a seam of saline minerality threads red and dark fruits, cacao nib and garrigue. Long, aerial finish with lingering florals and crushed rock.
Did you know?
L'Ermita is classified Gran Vinya Classificada—Priorat's top tier—and is widely cited alongside Pingus as a defining icon of modern Spanish wine. The vineyard expanded to 4.7 ha after a land swap with René Barbier, yet each year only a fraction is chosen for L'Ermita to preserve its filigreed style. First vintage: 1993.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Milk-fed lamb chops a la brasa: Sweet Garnacha fruit and fine tannins mirror lamb's delicacy; smoky char links to slate-borne mineral savour.
- Wild mushroom and truffle risotto: Umami depth and creamy texture resonate with the wine's silken mid-palate and subtle cocoa-herb tones.
- Duck breast with cherry glaze: Bright red-fruit core complements cherry notes; acidity cuts richness while spice nuances echo the glaze.
- Aged Manchego with membrillo: Nutty salinity amplifies the wine's mineral profile; quince paste plays to Garnacha's red-fruit register.
