Scala Dei Prior 2007

17.0 / 20

Producer: Cellers de Scala Dei

Region: Priorat

Country: Spain

Deep, dark purple to the eye, this red from the Priorat has an intense, warm nose, at first centered on exotic woods and spices and then revealing a strong ripe black fruit backbone.

Full-bodied, intense and structured as usual with the reds from the Priorat, it shows some hard tannins and a fresh acidity that keeps it from being too heavy. Lots of caramel and cocoa notes in the palate, more present than the fruit notes, although there are some juicy dark plums in the intense, long and hot ending.

A really intense wine that will probably age well for a couple more years.

Tasted on 2012-09-01

Gratavinum GV5 2007

17.5 / 20

Producer: Gratavinum

Region: Priorat

Country: Spain

The few Priorat wines I've had the chance to taste have been really eye openers to that region, all of them being big, full wines that still manage to keep an amazing elegance and poise.

This one is no exception to the rule with a strong, involving nose that shows the usual - for spanish wines - intense vanilla notes, along with some sweet red berries, some kirsch and, to the back, some soft leather notes that give it an added layer of interest.

Big, very structured and dense in the palate, this has some still hard tannins that show the wine's youth. Yet, the sweet red berries are already very well integrated with the pervading oak, resulting in a strong, intense and real well made wine that, in spite of its high alcohol mark - around 15%, manages to retain its elegance. Very strong, long finish leaving behind some elegant leathery notes.

Tasted on 2011-11-19

Coma Vella 2006

17.0 / 20

Producer: Mas d'en Gil

Region: Priorat

Country: Spain

Impressive spanish red from the Priorat, the nose is an intense mix of sweet red berries, plums and blackberries, vanilla, spices and very strong notes of chocolate. Very impressive, strong and full without being tiresome.

In the mouth, it shows itself as a full-bodied, heavy wine. Strong and structured, it has chocolate notes which are sustained by a very balanced acidity. Nice, edgy tannins give it an added complexity, but it still manages to convey a sense of elegance and subtlety which is unusual for its weight. Finish is very long, with chocolate notes playfully mingling with red berries.

Tasted on 2011-08-02