Priorat Wine Tasting at Wine Watch

“A fruit is a vegetable with looks and money. Plus, if you let fruit rot, it turns into wine, something brussel sprouts never do.”

? P. J. O’Rourke

The Priorat makes some of Spain’s greatest wines and some of the most expensive as well.  The high elevation of the vineyards and cost of farming the old vines make the best wines very expensive and there really are no cheap wines until you get into the foothills of Monsant.  So we have included a few wines from this region for their value appeal.

Every time we show wines from the Priorat I am surprised to see how many new fans these wines acquire. They have gorgeous forward fruit and an early appeal that rank very high on the immediate gratification scale.  We like the wines of the Priorat so much we have dedicated an annual event to showcasing the new releases from area. 

Join us as we taste through over a dozen wines from the Priorat.  Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will be providing a few tasty treats to pair with the wines. This is a walk around tasting and is limited to 25 tasters, the fee for this event is $45 all-inclusive for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Priorat Wine Tasting at Wine Watch Friday, July 18th

 

Augustan Wine Imports

 

2011 Raventos "L Hereu" Conca del Riu Anoia, Penedes  (Sparkling )

Price: $22.25   Sale $19.58      Case $227

A traditional blend of 45% Macabeo, 35% Xarel.lo and 20% Parellada.  From the plots of La Plana and El Viader, L’Hereu is vinified in the traditional method (Champenoise). Vinification in stainless steel tanks followed by blending and secondary fermentation in bottle, aged for a minimum of 15 months. Vines are 20-50 years old, all handpicked and farmed biodynamically. Dosage: 8.5gr/l

Winemaker’s Notes: Style, that identity that defines a winery, is reflected in this cava. The search for clarity and purity has produced this sparkling wine with a gentle citric aroma highlighted by hints of white fruits, with all the olfactory elements in perfect balance. The palate is built on both freshness and concentration: a wine that combines firmness and smoothness with creamy bubbles. A long and very clean finish.

 

2013 Raventos "Silencis", Conca del Riu Anoia, Penedes      

Price: $22.25   Sale $19.58      Case $227

This unique white is 100% Xarel•lo grapes grown on the Serral vineyard, oriented to the east-southeast, with calcareous soils formed in the Miocene. The vineyard is subdivided into several plots that allow for Xarel•lo with differentia¬ting characteristics. The vineyard is characterized with a marked sandy texture, shallow and with a low organic material content. Vinification and elevage in stainless steel on the lees.

Winemaker Notes: Earthy aromas of ripe pear and a pleasant hint of anise that embody the subtlety of a Xarel•lo very carefully tended on the vine. On the palate it's dynamic and powerful, with a captivating combination of the austerity and volume provided by careful ageing on the lees. A rich but silky wine that reflects the efforts made to achieve quality.

 

2011 Vinos Pinol "Lavi Arrufi" Terra Alta

Price: $49.50   Sale $43.56      Case $505

(92 Points) The 2011 L’Avi Arrufi Blanc is pure Garnacha Blanca from a single vineyard (Mas Blanch, planted 55 years ago) fermented and aged for seven months in oak barrels. It has a bright golden color and a nose dominated by subtle aromas of roasted nuts, ripe yellow and white fruit and hints of spices and well-integrated oak, quite harmonious. The palate shows the wood neatly folded into the wine, with ripe, supple flavors, quite powerful yet balanced and at the same time with some elegance. A great example of balanced Garnacha Blanca, which should age with style. 6,000 bottles produced. Drink 2014-2019.

Celler Pinol is a family winery, but it’s not a small operation, as they produce no less than 450,000 bottles per year. They are one of the quality leaders of Terra Alta.  Wine Advocate #211, Feb 2014

2013 Alvario Palacios "Camins"  Priorat         

Price: $25.50   Sale $22.44      Case $261

A blend of 40% Garnacha, 30% Samso, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and10% Syrah.  The fruit is a combination of estate vineyards and purchased grapes. All the vineyards are in and around the village of Gratallops on the Schist soils that make this region unique and the production here is around 50,000 cases.

 

2008 Embruix de Vall Llach Priorat Spain

Price: $33.75   Sale $29.70      Case $345

(91 Points) Vall LLach’s entry-level 2008 Embruix, sourced from the estate’s younger vines, is composed of 30% Garnacha, 25% Carinena, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Syrah and Merlot aged for 14 months in seasoned French oak. Opaque purple in color with an expressive nose of cedar, lavender, spice box, mineral, licorice, black cherry, and black raspberry, on the palate it is full-bodied, smooth-textured, and sweetly fruited with outstanding volume and length. This outstanding value can be approached now and over the next 8-10 years.

 

 

 

Terraspania

Los 800 Priorat 2009 

Price: $25.50   Sale $22.44      Case $261.00

(90 Points)       Bright ruby-red. Assertive aromas of raspberry, floral oils and exotic spices show very good intensity and focus. Fresh, sweet and spicy, with vibrant red and dark berry flavors, a subtle mineral nuance and good back-end lift. Sweet and energetic on the long, floral finish, which shows no rough edges. This fruity wine is already drinking well.  Issue 164, Sept/Oct 2012 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

 

Genium Celler Priorat 2007

Price: $39.00   Sale $34.32      Case $398

A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Carinyena, 15% Merlot and 5% Syrah. Aged for 9 monts in French Allier oak barrels, representing a 20% new and 80% of second comings.  Wine fermented at a controlled temperature , and macerated during a 25 days period. 

Genium Costers vi de Guarda Priorat 2005

Price: $60.00   Sale $52.80      Case $612

(93 Points) The 2005 Genium Cellers Costers is sourced from the winery’s steepest and oldest vineyards... Inky purple-hued, the nose reveals lots of mineral, earth, and pencil lead as well as fragrant notes of blueberry and black cherry. This leads to a full-bodied, muscular wine with a powerful personality, gobs of layered fruit, enough tannin to support 5-7 years of additional cellaring, terrific intensity, and a very long finish. Drink this superb wine through 2030. The Wine Advocate, Issue 175, February '08

 

Viticultors del Priorat Vega Escal 2008

Price: $24.00   Sale $21.12      Case $245

(91 points)  The fruit for the 2008 Vega Escal was sourced from around the village of Gratallops, a warmer sub-region of Priorat. It is a blend of 60% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, and 10% Syrah aged for 6 months in French oak. Enticing aromas of garrigue, lavender, incense, plum, and black cherry lead to a racy, intense, impeccably balanced, lengthy wine that can be approached now but will provide enjoyment for another 6-8 years.  Wine Advocate #194, May 2011

 

 

Stacole

CLOSA BATLLET “Artai” Gratallops Priorato 2010

Price: $22.50   Sale $19.80      Case $230

Gratallops Vi de la Vila" is the new appellation for the wines produced from Gratallops, inspired by the Burgundy philosophy of villages. Artai is the most daring little member at Cal Batllet: Marc’s firstborn son. Aging: 12 months in 225L French oak barrels, 20% new. Farming: Organic. Age of vines: 10-40 years old.

Cellers Ripoll Sans was established in 2000 when Marc Ripoll, a young man in his early twenties, returned to the Priorat to restore his family's winery in the village of Gratallops. Prior to his arrival, the harvest from the family's estate vineyards was sold to the local cooperative. Over the last few years, Marc has restored the old winery and built Closa Battlet into one of the top estates in the region. While preserving the historical structure of the winery, Marc has updated the building to incorporate modern winemaking techniques, though always in small volumes and in a highly manual way. Its production is based on grape selections from its estate vineyards, some as old as 90 years, cultivated on hillsides with slate soil. The wines made in this way have their own unique personality stemming from the endeavor to convey all the special features of the terrain." -Importer

 

MAS ALTA “Artigas” Priorato 2011  

Price: $30.00   Sale $26.40      Case $306

"(70% garnacha, 25% carinena and 5% cabernet sauvignon; aged for 16 months in small French oak): Opaque ruby. Powerful cherry and cassis aromas are brightened by smoky mineral and floral qualities. Fresh dark berry flavors are pleasantly bitter and surprisingly lithe, with a licorice note adding interest. Gains sweetness and weight on the finish, with the dark berry and mineral notes echoing."

 

MAS DOIX “Les Cretes” Priorat 2012   

Price: $30.00   Sale $26.40      Case $306

(94 Points) A stunningly profound Priorat, the 2012 Les Crestes is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Carinena and 10% Syrah aged eight months in French oak. This single vineyard wine emerges from a parcel planted 350-400 meters above sea level in the pure slate soil that the locals call “licorella.” The blend includes significant amounts of old vine material. The wine’s deep purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of black raspberries, spring flowers and crushed rocks, elegant, medium to full-bodied flavors and a long, zesty, rich finish. The oak is pushed to the background, and the wine’s freshness and exuberance are well-displayed. Poboleda is one of the two coldest micro-climates of Priorat, so this is clearly a more feminine-styled wine. Drink it over the next 4-6 years.  Wine Advocate #213, Jun 2014  

CELLER CAN BLAU “ESTATE” Montsant 2012  

Price: $17.00   Sale $14.96      Case $174

(90 Points) Brilliant ruby.  Lively red berry and Asian spice aromas are deepened by notes of mocha and licorice.  Taut and linear on entry, then fleshier in the middle, offering fresh raspberry and cherry compote flavors and a touch of succulent herbs.  Shows very good energy and focus, finishing with lingering spiciness and a note of tangy berry skin.-JR International Wine Cellar

 

CARA NORD “Negre” Conca de Barbera 2012 

Price: $19.00   Sale $16.72      Case $194

(90 Points) The red 2012 Conca de Barbera is a blend of 42% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 20% Garrut (this may be the first time I have seen that grape varietal). The result is an outstanding red wine displaying a dense ruby/plum/purple color, lots of kirsch liqueur intermixed with a notion of roasted herbs, medium to full body, attractive, savory, fleshy flavors and a long finish. Drink it over the next several years. The Conca de Barbera appellation is northeast of Priorat and Montsant, and west of Penedes.  eRobertParker.com #1113, Nov 2013

 

Terroir Al Limit Torroja Vi De Vila 2011       

Price: $52.00   Sale $45.76      Case $531

(92 points) "(a 50/50 blend of garnacha and carinena, aged for 24 months in 500-liter casks and large wooden vats): Brilliant ruby-red. Heady, seductively perfumed scents of ripe red fruit, sandalwood, Asian spices and floral oils. Sweet, seamless and light on its feet, offering vibrant raspberry and cherry compote flavors with suggestions of rose pastille and cinnamon. Fine-grained tannins add grip to the tangy, gripping, red fruit-dominated finish." , Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sept/Oct 13

PRIORAT NATUR “Vermut Aperitif” N/V

Price: $27.00   Sale $23.76      Case $276

Priorat Natur was founded in 1997 by Xavier Buil, his wife, Anna Cuadrat, and his partner, under the philosophy of making handcrafted local Priorat products and selling them around the world.

According to ancient writings, Vermouth drinks were invented by Hippocrates, a famous physician of antiquity, born 460 BC. He macerated flowers and leaves of wormwood dictamo, in wine, obtaining what in the Middle Ages was called “Hippocratic wine” or simply “herbal wine.”

The grapes used for their Vermouth come from two different farmers on a total of 2.8 acres of vineyards, and are grown practicing organic methods.

Vermouth has been the aperitif par excellence in the Priorat region for nearly 100 years.  It is made using old recipes, in which different plant varieties are macerated for over a year in oak barrels, with proportions from their ancestor’s original recipe.

To this essence, white wine made from Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez and White Garnacha is added.  This wine is vinified by being in contact with the grape skins, giving it more aroma and a pale golden color.  Then a small amount of sugar is added to give it the desired sweetness.

After that it ages for a minimum of two years in old oak barrels, where it obtains the desired aromas and characteristic amber coloring.

After one year in oak, a small amount of the “young” vermouth is added to the barrel of “old” vermouth”, where it rests for another year before being bottled.

Bottling is done in small quantities at a time.  This ensures that the minimum age of the vermouth is two years but mixed with vermouth that is much older, similar to the “solera” system of Jerez.

Menu

Meatballs stuffed with smoked motz and fra diablo sauce Chicken empanadas with lavender aioli Wild mushroom flatbread with marscapone and fontina cheese garnished with fresh herbs Jamon de Serrano, Olives, picked vegetables and Manchego Cheese

 

 

 

 

A bit of info on the Priorat:

The first recorded evidence of grape growing and wine production dates from the 12th century, when the monks from the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei, founded in 1163, introduced the art of viticulture in the area. The prior of Scala Dei ruled as a feudal lord over seven villages in the area, which gave rise to the name Priorat. The monks tended the vineyards for centuries until 1835 when they were expropriated by the state, and distributed to smallholders.

At the end of the 19th century, the phylloxera pest devastated the vineyards causing economic ruin and large scale emigration of the population. Before the phylloxera struck, Priorat is supposed to have had around 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) of vineyards. It was not until the 1950s that replanting was undertaken. The DO Priorat was formally created in 1954. The seat of the DO's regulatory body was initially Reus, some 30km to the east of the wine-region, rather than in Priorat itself.

In the decade from 1985, the production of bulk wine was phased out and bottling of quality wine phased in.

Early on, winemaking cooperatives dominated. Much of the development of Priorat wines to top class is credited to René Barbier and Álvaro Palacios. Winemaker Barbier, then active at a winery in Rioja owned by the Palacios family, bought his first land for Priorat vineyards in 1979, convinced of the region's potential. At this stage, there were 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of Priorat vineyards. In the 1980s, he convinced others, including Palacios, to follow suit and plant new vineyards in suitable locations, all named Clos. For the first three vintages, 1989-1991, the group of five wineries pooled their grapes, shared a winery in Gratallops, and made one wine sold under five labels: Clos Mogador (Barbier), Clos Dofi (Palacios, later renamed to Finca Dofi), Clos Erasmus, Clos Martinet and Clos de l'Obac. From 1992, these wines were made separately. In 1993, Palacios produced a wine called L'Ermita sourced from very old Priorat vines, which led to an increased interest in using the region's existing vineyards to produce wines in a new style.

The Catalan authorities approved of Priorat's elevation from DO to DOQ status in 2000, but national level confirmation from the Spanish Government in Madrid only came on July 6, 2009. In the period from 2000 to 2009, when it was approved as DOQ but not yet as DOCa, despite the fact that these designations were exactly the same but in Catalan and Spanish, respectively, the situation was somewhat confused. A new set of DOQ rules were approved by the Catalan government in 2006. The regulatory body moved from Reus to Torroja del Priorat in 1999.

The vineyard surface of Priorat has been continuously expanding since the Clos-led quality revolution in the 1990s. At the turn of the millennium there was 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of vineyards, with an equal amount of planting rights secured. As of 2009, there are close to 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres).

 

Other Priorat wines available in the store:

 

2010 Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi Priorat

Price: $81.00    Your Price: $71.28 Quantity in Stock: 8

(94 points) "Suave, highly perfumed nose offers fresh raspberry, minerals, candied flowers and Asian spices. Sappy and minerally, offering intense, spice-accented red fruit and floral pastille flavors with superb clarity. Wonderfully supple in texture, with outstanding finishing persistence and only a hint of sweet tannins." Stephen Tanzer IWC

 

2008 Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi Priorat

Price: $81.00    Your Price: $71.28 Quantity in Stock: 7

(93 points) The 2008 Finca Dofi, sourced from a relatively youthful single vineyard, is composed of 60% Garnacha with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot aged in 100% new French oak. Aromas of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, and black cherry lead to a forward, sexy offering with plenty of spice and floral notes. This lengthy effort is one of those rarities than can be approached now but will drink well for another 20 years.

Alvaro Palacios established his namesake winery in 1989. The flagship L’Ermita made its debut in 1993. Finca Dofi and L'Ermita vineyards are farmed biodynamically. All of the wines are bottled without filtration. In 2008 Palacios was the last grower in Priorat to harvest, waiting out rains that diluted other growers fruit. It appears that 2009 was a slightly more successful vintage for Alvaro Palacios (and most Priorat producers) than was 2008. All of the 2009s were tasted from barrel samples at the Bodega in January 2011.  Wine Advocate #194, May 2011

 

2008 Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita Priorat

Price: $775.00    Your Price: $682.00 Quantity in Stock: 1

(96 points) The flagship, the 2008 L’Ermita, comes from a remarkably steep 4.4 acre, 70-year-old vineyard planted to 100% Garnacha and is aged in 100% new oak. It delivers a profound perfume of exotic spices, kinky wild berry aromas, incense, liquid minerality, black raspberry, and black cherry. In this vintage it is relatively forward with considerable elegance, a sophisticated personality, great depth and balance, and a pure, fruit-filled finish. It is one of the benchmark wines of the DO.

Alvaro Palacios established his namesake winery in 1989. The flagship L’Ermita made its debut in 1993. Finca Dofi and L’Ermita vineyards are farmed biodynamically. All of the wines are bottled without filtration. In 2008 Palacios was the last grower in Priorat to harvest, waiting out rains that diluted other growers’ fruit. It appears that 2009 was a slightly more successful vintage for Alvaro Palacios (and most Priorat producers) than was 2008. All of the 2009s were tasted from barrel samples at the Bodega in January 2011.  Wine Advocate #194, May 2011

 

2009 Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita Priorat

Price: $1051.75    Your Price: $925.54 Quantity in Stock: 2

(96 Points) The 2009 L'Ermita has a feminine, sensual bouquet laced with pure raspberry, creme de cassis, orange blossom and lavender aromas with a touch of Seville orange marmalade. The palate is full-bodied, with a gentle but insistent grip. It is bright and lively with precise tannins, the keen thread of acidity belying the potency on the precocious finish, which fans across the mouth like a roll of thunder. There are hints of white pepper and liquorice lingering on the aftertaste of this outstanding Priorat red. Drink 2017-2030.

Visiting Alvaro Palacios was a must during my trip to Priorat, the dynamo and tour de force that has propelled Priorat to the forefront of the Spanish wine scene. The modern architecture of his hilltop winery lies in stark contrast to the nearby village Gratallops, where houses huddle as if sheltering from a raincloud that will never come. Indeed, as we parked the car, the village’s P.A. system was announcing that there would be no running water for the next two hours, indicating how precious a commodity water is. People suffer as well as vines. Since his debut in 1989, Alvaro’s wines have built a formidable reputation with prices to match. Fortunately, he pays as much attention to quality at the lower end of his range: a bottle bearing his name must meet his exacting standards. I listened as Alavaro expounded the greatness of Garnacha, convinced that the identity of Priorat lies in this grape variety and Carinena, rather than Cabernet Sauvignon. A man of his word, he is therefore reducing the percentage of Cabernet in his flagship L’Ermita and it would not surprise me if it is phased out entirely in the future. Personally, I think an already great wine is greater for it. He also rhapsodized about his nascent 2010s, which he feels are not as “heavy†as his 2009s and constitute “very enchanting wines,†something I completely agree with. Most of these wines were tasted in Priorat, augmented by one or two tastings held in London.  Wine Advocate #200 Apr 2012 Reviewer: Neal Martin

 

2005 Bodegas Mas Alta La Creu Alta Priorat

Price: $137.50    Your Price: $121.00 Quantity in Stock: 8

Vines that are more than 80 years old naturally produce less grapes. They are less dependent upon climate conditions thanks to their roots, which are plunged deep into the soil. They ripen slowly, but fully, and consistently… The ultimate, true, unequivocal expression of terroir.

Creu Alta is a blend of carignan (60%) and grenache (40%). The proportions vary a little from vintage to vintage. The grenache comes from vines that are 80 years old, and the carignan is harvested exclusively from hundred-year old vineyards. By selecting the best that Priorat has to offer, we hope to produce a unique wine that reflects its origins and the passion of the winegrowers who produce it.

Tasting a wine like Creu Alta is a way to experience a culture, to feel the passion and appreciate the labour of several generations, to experience the mysterious alchemy wrought by Nature. Being aware of this lets you grasp its meaning to the full…

 

2011 Clos Del Portal Tros De Clos Priorat

Price: $103.50    Sale Price: $69.00 Quantity in Stock: 9

Tros del Clos is the Grand Cru of Portal del Priorat. A wine made solely with Cariñena grapes emanating from a century-old vineyard of only one hectare, planted on a coster (hillside) in 1911, and which identifies itself perfectly with the landscape, not only in its colour, the opaqueness and violet hue, almost the colour of slate, but also in its aromatic character (fresh, mineral, with floral notes too) and on the palate: silky and fresh. A wine yet again subtle and elegant - as all of them are from this winery - intense and full of life, and for which there is no shortage of meticulous care and attention during its making and ageing.

 

2011 Portal del Priorat Gotes del Priorat

Price: $31.50    Your Price: $27.72 Quantity in Stock: 5

10 months in French barrique, not all new, a blend of 50/50 Grenache and Carignan, a very forward and enticing bouquet dark berry fruit, fresh wild flower and a slate like minerality, very sweet and enticing bouquet. A big and fruity wine on the tongue with layers of cherry liqueur and blackberry fruit with a lovely savory finish with an array of perfumed floral nuance and slate like minerality, nice complexity and length on the finish. Finish 45 Excellent

 

2004 Clos Erasmus Priorat (original wooden case)

Price: $975.00    Sale Price: $858.00 Quantity in Stock: 7

(100 points)  The 2004 Clos Erasmus is a blend of 75% Garnacha, 15% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The aromatic profile is similar but more expressive and soars from the glass. It is somehow richer, broader, and more sexy with amazing complexity and length. Think of your wildest fantasy coming true and you may be able to conjure up the pleasure this wine delivers now and will continue to deliver over the next 12-15 years.  Wine Advocate #169 Feb 2007

 

 

1994 Clos Erasmus Priorat

Price: $695.00    Sale Price: $595.00 Quantity in Stock: 1

(99 Points) Readers should see my profile of Eric Solomon and the extraordinary reviews of the 1992 and 1993 Clos Erasmus in issue #101, page 44. This wine, made from a blend of very old vine Grenache and younger vine Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on terraced vineyards, is among the most exciting wines I have tasted. Unfortunately, only 300 cases are produced, all of which is exported to the United States. It is aged in 100% new French oak casks and bottled without fining or filtration. 1994 is considered to be one of Spain's all-time great vintages, so it is not surprising that this wine possesses more potential than the exceptional 1993 and 1992. Try to imagine a hypothetical blend of Petrus, l'Evangile, Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape, and Napa's 1993 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon. The color is an opaque black/purple. The nose offers up spectacularly rich, pure aromas of blackberries, black-raspberries, minerals, and subtle vanillin from new oak barrels. Extremely rich and dense, with unbelievable levels of concentration and extract, this amazing wine is a strong candidate for a three-digit rating when it develops more maturity in 5-8 years. Since it is a newly created wine, there is no track record established for ageability, but a wine such as this should keep for 20-25 years. This is one of the most exciting young wines anyone could possibly taste. Awesome! Wine Advocate #105, Jun 1996

 

2010 Clos Erasmus Priorat

Price: $207.00    Your Price: $182.16 Quantity in Stock: 2

(92 -94 points) The 2010 Clos Erasmus was made in the same way as the 2009, but in my opinion it already demonstrates more precision and terroir on the nose. There is tangibly great tension and poise here, with filigree tannins all the way to the finish. There is a sense of animation within the 2010 as well as impressive focus. This will turn out to be fresher and more poised than the “ribald†2009. Wine Advocate #200, Apr 2012

 

2010 Clos Erasmus Laurel Priorat

Price: $55.00    Your Price: $48.40 Quantity in Stock: 2

(90 points) The 2010 Laurel is a blend of 70% Garnacha, 20% Syrah and 5% Cabernet aged half in troconic, wooden Taransaud vats plus 2- to 4-year-old barrels and it is essentially the second wine of Clos Erasmus. The 2010 has a very ripe, glossy bouquet with macerated dark cherries, soy and violets. The palate is full-bodied with succulent tannins married with good acidity, and pure dark fruits laced with balsamic, orange rind and a touch of rosemary, with fine delineation on the sensual finish. Drink 2014-2022. Wine Advocate #200 Apr 2012

 

2007 Clos Erasmus Laurel Priorat

Price: $62.00    Your Price: $54.56 Quantity in Stock: 3

(94 Points) The 2007 Laurel, a blend of 65% Garnacha and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, is deep purple-colored with a bouquet of wet stone, Asian spices, black cherry compote, and incense. Dense and sweet on the palate with tons of spice, it is super-concentrated, rich, and smooth-textured. Give this lengthy effort 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2027.

Laurel is produced from the young vines of Clos Erasmus as well as from the results of a triage in the vineyard and cellar of the flagship wine. Wine Advocate # 188 Apr 2010

 

2007 Clos Mogador Manyetes Priorat

Price: $73.50    Your Price: $64.68 Quantity in Stock: 10

Manyetes is the name of a place in the village of Grattalops. With this Manyetes, Barbier has imposed a passionate challenge on this poor and too sunny soil, at the limit of the survival of the vines ... Only the influence of the Ebre river on the horizon, gives an occasional thin patch of moisture that allows the vines to survive. The result is a large concentration of the principal essence of Priorat. And in this corner close to suffocation, rises Rene Barbier, who resists an old barren and steep hillside, covered with slate and planted with Carignan. He wanted to bring some femininity with 25% of Grenache. The result is a surprising wine: the Carignan and Grenache combine to give the soil a mineral wine, feminine, pleasant and subtle ...

 

2004 La Vinya Del Vuit Priorat

Price: $98.75    Your Price: $86.90 Quantity in Stock: 4

In September, 2001, La Vinya del Vuit (the vineyard of the 8) was created in Gratallops by eight friends. Centered around the winemaking couple of Rene Barbier Jr. and Sara Perez, the group took advantage of the extremely old vines on these schist-filled hills to create this new and exciting enterprise. They currently produce only one bottling, and that singular wine in extremely limited quantity. Harvest is always by hand at this tiny estate and is carried out only in the early hours of the morning. The grapes are taken to the winery in small refrigerated trucks. There is an aggressive winery triage before a portion of the grapes are crushed. Fermentation starts naturally using only indigenous yeasts and may take up to a month in 500 liter, open-top tanks. The grapes are then crushed again before being racked (only by gravity) into French oak barrels for ageing.

 

2002 La Perla Del Priorat Comte Pirenne

Price: $75.0    Your Price: $66.00 Quantity in Stock: 1

 

2000 Mas Doix Priorat

Price: $160.00    Your Price: $140.80 Quantity in Stock: 4

 

2000 Planots Vi De Vinyes Velles Priorat

Price: $81.00    Your Price: $71.28 Quantity in Stock: 4