Closa Batllet, Priorat

Closa Batllet is by far one of my favorite wine producers... Ever. Yes, ever. The wines, both red and white amaze me; after tasting them on a Monday, I couldn't stop thinking of them and still haven't. The balance of flavors and acidity almost haunt me, but in a good way!
The 2009 Closa Batllet Gratallops 5 Partides Vi de la Vila Priorat, made from 100% Carignan is phenomenal to say the very least. Inky dark and nearly black despite being purplish red in color, it fills a room with blackberry, red currant, coffee, black tea, and cocoa aromas. It's flavors are a harmonious mix of savory ripe fruit and lush old vine richness. One hell of a great glass of wine...
The 2010 Gratallops Artai Vi de la Vila Priorat is no slouch, either. Equally delicious as the above, but with a different taste profile that comes from a blend of 47% Garnatxa, 28% Carinena, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Syrah... And that means a big mouthful o' red wine! Juicy, laden with cassis, cedar, spicebox, cinnamon, and exotic qualities too numerous to pinpoint!
Just when we thought it was awesome, it got better! The 2009 Gantallops 5 Partides Vi de la Vila Priorat did nothing short of blow our minds. 100% Carignan from five vineyard parcels spent a nice rest for 15 months in French oak, imparting an otherworldly lush frame of sandalwood, cigarbox, and toasted vanilla aromatics to an already complex dark fruit frame that glided across the palate with the grace of a ballerina. Darn tasty stuff that reminded us of Chateaunuef du Pape, yet it was uniquely Spanish.
If that was a ten, the 2009 Torroja Roncavall Vi de la Vila Priorat turned it up past 11, with a power and finesse rarely seen anywhere.

Where the heck is that from?

Let's break it down: Vi de la Vila in the area of Grantallops, in Priorat, in the steep hillsides near Tarragona in Eastern Spain, is in Europe on the Planet Earth. Okay, now that is relatively clear we will get into some incredible wineries and their juicy offerings from the ancient vines grown in the rugged terrain there.
Grape varieties there, the ones we will focus on, include some of our faves: Carinena (carignan), Garnatxa (grenache), Syrah, Monastrell (mourvedre), and Cabernet Sauvignon, and other goodies make up the red roster. Whites can be more obscure... Garnatxa Blanc (grenache), Xarel- lo, Piquepoul (translated from French meaning "lip stinger"), Macabeo, Pedro Ximinez, Chardonnay, and among others Escanyavella (Catalan for "old lady strangler").
Still with us?
Right. So onward to explore some unbelievably mouth watering wines from Eastern Spain...

Garnatxa, Garnacha

What... Is your favorite color? White.. no, red! Aaarrrrgh!
Have no fear, our dear Grenache by any other name comes in both colors. It grows especially well in Spain in the Terra Alta region of Catalonia where many of the vines are over 100 years old, yielding smaller amounts of more intensely flavored grapes. There Nuria Altes crafts the Herencia Altes wines with gentle hands to create extremely drinkable wines that we can't resist!
The 2012 Garnatxa Blanca Terra Alta is zippy and fresh with an appley nose and yummy pear and lemon flavors. It's a steal and something to buy by the case. The others we tasted from Herencia Altes are all made from 100% Garnatxa Negra and are aged, like the whites, in concrete tanks as to not interfere with the inherent finesse of the grapes from chalk bourne old vines. The reds ooze black and red berry fruit and have just enough acidity and tannins to keep them deliciously balanced. Look for the 2012 Garnatxa Negra, 2011 Benufet (also in white), and 2010 L'estel, all from Terra Alta and all great wines. Beg your local retailer and restaurant to buy them so you can, too...

Extraordinarily Yummy

Say it reaaal slow, no sudden movements of the jaw, just let it slip out as if it were Freudian but in slo mo, and you mean it: escanya- vella. We knew you could do it...
Never heard of it? Hardly anyone has. Its safe to say it is one of our favorite white grapes nowadays...
Closa Batllet from the Priorat region in easternmost Spain is owned by Marc Ripoll, who has brought this grape back from obscurity and onto our palates. The 2011 Closa Batllet Gratallops Escanyavella Vi de la Vila Priorat is, in one word, EXTRAORDINARY.
We tasted this beauty at an Eric Solomon event and loved the subtle citrus and light floral aromatics. Supremely balanced acidity and ample structure made us wish we had more of it... Somewhere warmer than Boston in the winter! If indeed you can find this wine, buy lots if it, its awesome.

Escanya-vella: "Old Lady Strangler"

Mmmm... Tasty

Loved this incredible Chateauneuf du Pape blanc at the Eric Soloman tasting in South Boston at the Seaport Hotel...
Many white Chateauneufs can be a little flabby, without a lot of refreshing qualities, but this one is bright and superclean. Heaps and gobs of vibrant tangerine and squeaky clean minerality cleansed the palate effortlessly. Made from 100% Grenache Blanc, and barrel aged for eight months in 25% new oak this really blew our minds. A hefty $80 price tag didn't detract from the experience... If you can afford it, just do it!

We're Baaaaack...

After a few years of not posting, we have returned! Stay tuned for news and notes from our vinous and culinary experiences...