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

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 of wine one thinks of when discussing Priorat. Not for the faint of palate. For those who like this style, this is a great value.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2017

Current Price:

$22.00USD

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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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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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 Cal Pla Black Slate Porrera, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$18.00USD

This is a great value in Priorat and that is something that is not often said about any wine. This is a blend of Garnacha and Carinjena with a small addition of Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has that slate/mineral quality along with black licorice and a ton of black cherries. Full bodied. On the palate, this is deep with loads of black cherry fruit over a mineral base. Great texture. This should drink great for the next ten to twelve years. It drinks great on its own and will work well with grilled meats.

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.

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

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Spain’s Priorat Wine Region: Small but Mighty

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

2017 Celler Cal Pla Black Slate Porrera, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

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