TN: 99 Alvaro Palacios L`Ermita Priorato

"T. Autischer" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:

The coupage for L'Ermita is usually 80% Garnacha and the other 20% depends with the vintage. Some vintages is just Cariñena, other year it also has some Cabernet Sauvignon.

Now, if this is your first taste of a Priorat, you will be ruined, because it is the most expensive of all, and tied with Pingus in the podium for the most expensive wines of Spain.

S.

Santiago schrieb:

Thank you for the info! Well, you're right, it was certainly not the cheapest one, but I had much more expensive wines with far less class than this one. I already tried Clos Mogador and Rotllan Torra Tirant, but it was some years ago and I cannot find any usable notes of my for these two. Can you maybe recommend some reasonably priced wines of the region?

"T. Autischer" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:

Wow, that's difficult. L'Ermita sells for 350 euros in Spain. How many wines over 350 euros have you tasted that were not classy enough?

I already tried Clos Mogador and Rotllan Torra Tirant,

Let me start saying that I do not like Priorat wines. To me, they have too much of everything. They are too intense, fruit is too concentrated, usually is too ripe, tannins are more than huge (and not the silkiest) and, well, you may get an idea with that.

That said, Rotllán Torra is a very classic winery. I had two wines from them and both were awful, bretty juices. Clos Mogador is supposed to be one of the most consistent wines from the D.O. year in year out. I remember a Clos Mogador 1998 which was magnificent in july, 2001, but my wife and me were not able to finish a bottle (see the above paragraph).

Finca Dofí, the second wine of L'Ermita is also said to be very good and consistent. And, this year, Trio Infernal (three french guys are the owners) has received an award by Elmundovino.com as one of the wines of the year.

Hope I helped,

S.

Santiago schrieb:

Well, there are enough costy Bordeaux around which were pretty disappointing for me. Of course, I'm far away from being an expert, and it could be that my palate wasn't fine enough for taste the class in those wines, but still - 95 Chateau Valandraud, for example, was IMHO not really worth 500 Euro - and again, maybe was simply bad luck.

not everyones taste. I cannot say even for myself if I always like it.

You certainly did! Thank you for the hints.

I'm no fan of Valandraud, but I think in general once you go to the

Like Santiago Priorat is not my favorite region, for same reasons. The only one I've bought more than once was the Vall Llach's second wine Embruix, which I thought was good for the style at $20ish.

T. Autischer wrote:

"T. Autischer" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@6g2000cwy.googlegroups.com:

Interesting. I loved Valandraud '95. I think I scored it about 95 points and thought it was magnificent. But this was on a blind tasting with other

Now, I can understand that blind tasting and drinking are very different things and many times, wines that do not shine in a blind tasting can be enjoyed more than others that have too much of everything. As is the case with Priorats.

Best,

S.

DaleW schrieb:

Yes, that was exactly my point. Besides, I am aware that I'm (nor anybody else) not really impartial when tasting $ 100+ wines. One expect always "something big". Sometimes it happens, but usually you get "just" some fine wine. It is that I, just as most people here, usually drink > > > cheapest one, but I had much more expensive wines with far less class