About this wine
Finca Dofí comes from a 10-hectare vineyard across three parajes in Gratallops, first acquired by Álvaro Palacios in 1990 and named after his own childhood nickname 'Dofí' (dolphin). Often called the 'little sister' of L'Ermita, it is organically farmed, hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts, and aged in French oak barriques without filtration. Predominantly Garnacha with a supporting portion of Cariñena, it combines power and richness with real finesse — a benchmark for Priorat's premium single-vineyard style.
For those ready to step up from Les Terrasses toward L'Ermita — Finca Dofí shows what serious Priorat terroir wine tastes like.
Sommelier's Note
"Finca Dofí is arguably the best value in the Álvaro Palacios range — it captures most of L'Ermita's depth and precision at a fraction of the price."
Food Pairings
Excellent with roast lamb, game birds, and aged sheep's-milk cheese; the fine tannins also suit charcoal-grilled wagyu and unagi kabayaki.
When to drink it
Special dinners, cellar-worthy purchases, and gifts for serious wine collectors.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Garnacha, Cariñena
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Price Range
- $110-140
Terroir & Winemaking
Organically farmed, hand-harvested grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged roughly 18 months in French oak barriques before bottling unfiltered.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the name Finca Dofí mean?
- 'Dofí' was Álvaro Palacios's own childhood nickname, meaning 'dolphin' in Catalan; he named his first vineyard purchase (1990) after it.
- Is Finca Dofí similar to L'Ermita?
- It's often called L'Ermita's 'little sister' — same organic, hand-harvested, native-yeast approach, but from a different Gratallops vineyard and at a more accessible price.
- How long can Finca Dofí age?
- Well-structured vintages can age gracefully for 15-20+ years thanks to old-vine Garnacha and careful French oak aging.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
アルバロ・パラシオス レルミータ
Álvaro Palacios L'Ermita
RedGrenache · Carignan
L'Ermita is the crown jewel of Álvaro Palacios and a legendary icon of the Priorat region. Sourced from a single steep vineyard on llicorella (schist-slate) soils planted with ancient Garnacha and Cariñena vines, it represents the pinnacle of terroir expression. Extraordinary concentration, profound complexity, and elegant structure characterise this wine, with dark berry aromas, minerals, wild Mediterranean herbs, and a distinct balsamic quality reflecting the rugged beauty of the Priorat landscape.
アルバロ・パラシオス レ・テラッセス
Les Terrasses
RedGarnacha · Cariñena
Les Terrasses is a quintessential expression of the Priorat region, crafted by the visionary winemaker Álvaro Palacios. Sourced from steep, slate-rich 'llicorella' vineyards, this wine captures the rugged beauty of the landscape. It offers a sophisticated profile of dark berries, Mediterranean herbs, and mineral depth. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, which imparts a refined structure and silky tannins, ensuring both immediate drinkability and excellent aging potential. It stands as a benchmark for Priorat wines, balancing power with elegance.
カミンス・デル・プリオラート
Camins del Priorat
RedGarnacha · Cariñena · Cabernet Sauvignon · Merlot · Syrah · Garnacha Blanca · Pedro Ximénez
Launched in 2007, Camins del Priorat ('the paths of Priorat') is Álvaro Palacios's entry point into the appellation, opening up the region to a wider audience. Grown organically and fermented in stainless steel, cement, and wood vats before a short 4-6 month elevage in oak, it blends native Garnacha and Cariñena with international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah) plus a touch of white grapes for freshness. Fresh, fruit-forward, and approachable, it distills the character of Priorat's llicorella slate soils into an everyday-friendly style.
グラタリョップス
Vi de Vila Gratallops
RedGarnacha · Cariñena
First made separately from 2006, Vi de Vila Gratallops is Álvaro Palacios's village-level Priorat, sourced from old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena parcels scattered across the historic township of Gratallops — the village where the 'Gang of Five' relaunched the region in 1989. Grown on steep llicorella slate terraces and certified organic, it sits between the regional Les Terrasses and the single-vineyard Finca Dofí in the estate's hierarchy, synthesizing both the village's and the region's character.
レス・アウバゲテス
Les Aubaguetes
RedGarnacha · Cariñena
Les Aubaguetes ('the shady plots', referring to parcels that receive less direct sunlight) is a single-vineyard 'Vinya Classificada' wine from 1.79 hectares of vines planted in the early 1900s in the village of Bellmunt del Priorat, on blue slate soils. Fermented with native yeasts in oak vats, with some whole-cluster maceration of up to 23 days, and aged around 14 months in oval oak foudres, it is one of the estate's rare classified single-vineyard bottlings positioned alongside Finca Dofí in the upper tier of the range, prized for its density and ageing potential.