60% Garnacha, 39% Cariñena (Carignan), 1% Other White Grapes

"This sleek, well-balanced red leads with a savory touch of mountain herbs, a subtle accent for flavors of ripe mulberry and black raspberry, backed by hints of iron, paprika, vanilla and white pepper. A firm frame of plush-textured tannins provide definition through the lingering finish." -Wine Spectator

Tiny and entirely composed of craggy, jagged and deeply terraced vineyards, Priorat is a Catalan wine-producing region that was virtually abandoned until the early 1990s. The aim of the pioneers of this renaissance was to revive some of Priorat’s ancient Carignan vines, as well as plant new—mainly French—varieties. These winemakers were technically skilled, well-trained and locally inspired; not surprisingly their results were a far cry from the few rustic and overly fermented wines already produced.

This movement escalated Priorat’s popularity for a few reasons. Its new wines were modern and made with well-recognized varieties, namely old Carignan and Grenache blended with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. When the demand arrived, scarcity commanded higher prices and as the region discovered its new acclaim, investors came running from near and far. Within ten years, the area under vine practically doubled.

Alvaro Palacios (pictued above) is one of the original producers to rekindle Priorat in the 1990s.