2016 Clos del Portal Priorat Negre de Negres, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

This is a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Ruby in color, clear and bright. Tasted among a variety of Priorat wines, this was significantly lighter in color with more ruby than purple tones. The nose is nice with raspberries, cherries and spice. Medium bodied. Lighter on the palate as well with notes of black cherries and cherries. Good acidity. Nice finish. This is ready to drink now and should drink well for three to five more years. It will work well with stews or chili.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2016

Current Price:

$28.00USD

Spain’s Priorat Wine Region: Small but Mighty

You can hardly find Priorat , or Priorato in Spanish, on a map, it’s so small. This tiny Catalonian wine region covers just 4,151 acres – Rioja, in comparison, is over 150,000 acres in size – but Priorat’s impact on the world of wine is large.

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Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we reported on American Rhone-style wines we tasted at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008. We noted that this event was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective because, unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. While this was a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers weren’t represented, there was still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts.

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2019 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Camins del Priorat, Spain, Priorat, WIne Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$21.00USD

From one of the original wineries in Priorat's rebirth in the early 1990's. This is an entry level wine. It is a blend of 35% Garnacha, 24% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cariñena, 10% Merlot and 3% other grapes. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black cherries with a slightly sweet black licorice note. On the palate, this is sweet and jammy, ripe black cherries. Nice texture. Monolithic. Of course, this is young so it may develop more. It drinks better on its own right now than with food. Probably best to drink over the next three to five years.

2017 Celler Vall Llach Priorat Embruix, Spain, Priorat, Wine review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$22.00USD

Another top producer in Priorat, this is their entry level red. It is a blend of 27% Garnacha, 26% Merlot, 21% Syrah, 18% Cariñena, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque. The nose has dust, black cherries, plums and coffee. On the palate, spicy black cherry fruit. Medium tannins. The alcohol is noticeable but not obtrusive. Long finish. This is delicious and in need of some cellar time. Perhaps another three to five years. This drinks great on its own but will need big food right now. Perhaps after a few years it calms down. This is the kind

2013 Rotllan Torra Priorat Autor, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is the entry level wine from one of the better producers in Priorat. A blend of 35% Garnacha, 35% Mazuelo and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is spicy with black cherries and a touch of dill. On the palate, this is soft with bitter cherries. It has firm tannins. Bitter on the finish. It doesn't seem like this will get better but it shows no real signs of age. Still, iits probably best to drink in the next three to five years.

2016 Clos del Portal Priorat Negre de Negres, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

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Spain’s Priorat Wine Region: Small but Mighty

Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

2019 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Camins del Priorat, Spain, Priorat, WIne Review

2017 Celler Vall Llach Priorat Embruix, Spain, Priorat, Wine review

2013 Rotllan Torra Priorat Autor, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review