2009 Bodegas Mas Alta Cirerets

In some of the more rugged terroirs of Europe, they have an old saying, "Here the vines are Catholic. They love to suffer." Viticulturalists now understand the truth of the adage - in order to maximise flavour, you must reduce yields and maintain an equilibrium of tension in the vines. In Spain, vines go to purgatory in Priorat. Steep staircases of dark slate, shale and thin bands of red clay where machinery is impossible and hand harvests are a health hazard have proven to extricate the most interesting characteristics of indigenous varietals like Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan).

Since Rene Barbier from Clos Mogador put Priorat back on the map some 15 years ago, many wine writers and collectors have re-enstated it as Spain's most elite wine region with prices now fetching up to $700+ / bottle.Oblivious to such success, almost no one lives here. Yet the costs of working the terrain physically and financially have not deterred outsiders. Enter a new generation of visionary sadists. 'Bodegas Mas Alta' is the culmination of five Belgian partners' common desire to produce great wine. It has matured under the supervision of Rhone legends, Michel Tardieu and Philippe Cambie (Robert Parker's Consultant Winemaker of the Year 2011).

As direct imports, we offer several very affordable wines to help you get a grip on this amazing terroir, as well as two flagship cuvees for those deep-pocketed wine adventurers with a penchant for excess. Whatever your bent, our allocation of all wines is extremely limited.

50 year old vines and the two truly local varieties from Priorat, Grenache and Carignan, make up the 'Cirrerets'. It presents an opaque black purple colour with deep dark purple hue. The nose is a little subdued at first with aromas of black raspberry, earth, spice and a touch of liquorice emerging. Slightly more elegant than the first two wines in the Mas Alta collection but nevertheless still possessing plenty of power and richness on the palate with flavours of black raspberry, black cherry, liquorice and a spicy finish. Very fine grained slightly dryish but balanced tannins. Long blackberry, black raspberry, liquorice and spice aftertaste.
Cellar 5-6 years (2017-2018).
Alc 14.5%

Other Reviews….
"...sports a more expressive bouquet with a complex array of minerals, violets, tobacco, incense, tapenade, black cherry, and blackberry. Rich and dense on the palate with succulent fruit, outstanding volume, and a very long finish, it will benefit from 4-6 years of additional cellaring and offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2029."
94 points - Wine Advocate #194 May 2011