"The 2009 Auditori was tasted from a barrel sample but will be in bottle by the time this report is published. It is 100% Garnacha sourced from 80- to 100-year-old vines and aged for 13 months in French oak. It is more expressive than the Brao (and that’s saying something). It is a tight, youthful offering that should easily achieve its 20th birthday in fine form. Acustic Celler is establishing itself as one of the leaders in the Montsant DO."
„The 2009 Acustic is composed of 55% Samso and 45% Garnacha aged for 10-11 months in seasoned French oak. It offers up a lightly roasted bouquet of spice box, earthy minerals, tobacco, and black cherry setting the stage for a sweetly-fruited, dense, layered wine that has 1-2 years of aging potential. It, too, is an outstanding value that will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2019. Acustic is establishing itself as one of the finer producers in the up-and-coming region of Montsant. The wines are made from the indigenous varieties of the region with vine age ranging from 40-100 years. The 2009 Brao (93 points) and 2009 Auditori (93-96) were reviewed in Issue 194 in my Catalunya report.“
"The 2008 DOIX Costers Vinyes Velles reveals a deep purple color with outstanding aromatic complexity. Notes of liquid minerality, licorice, lavender, Asian spices, and black cherry lead to a supple, savory effort loaded with spice and personality. There is a nicely concealed structure that will allow the wine to evolve for several years although it is approachable now. It will be best from 2013 to 2028. Mas Doix has a story quite common in Priorat in which professional people living in the big cities return to reclaim the family heritage (and are having more fun than they ever did before). Mas Doix’s flagship cuvee is named DOIX Costers Vinyes Velles with an annual production of only 4-7,000 bottles. It is typically a blend of old-vine Garnacha and Carinena (80-108 years of age) with the proportions varying slightly from year to year. The wine is aged in 100% new French oak for 14-18 months."
"Lieblich und abgerundet, durch den Ausbau gereift, ohne jedoch seinen Charakter zu verlieren. Aromen reifer Früchte mit Mineral- und Gewürznoten. Ausgewogen im Geschmack, fleischig, süffig, weiche Tannine, mit wuchtigem Körper."
"The flagship, the 2007 Costers de Vinas Viejas is a blend of 50% Carinena , 48% Garnacha, and 2% Merlot aged for 16 months in new French oak. It offers up an aromatic array of smoke, mineral, leather, licorice, incense, plum, and black cherry. This leads to a full-bodied, voluminous, plush wine with a youthful personality and enough structure to evolve for 3-4 years. This lengthy effort will be at its best from 2013 to 2022 if not longer."
"The purple-colored 2007 Salanques is composed of 65% Garnacha, 15% Carinena, and the balance Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 14 months in French oak. Aromas of Asian spices, incense, mineral, plum and black cherry are followed by a plush, opulent, pleasure-bent Priorat that delivers awesome value for this pricy DO. Give it 1-2 years to fully blossom and drink it through 2022. Salanques is the result of a barrel by barrel declassification of Mas Doix’s flagship Costers de Vinas Viejas."
"The 2008 Auditori is 100% Garnacha from 80- to 100-year-old vines aged for 13 months in French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it displays a fragrant bouquet of incense, red licorice, violets, black cherry, and plum. On the palate this buxom wine is loaded with succulent red and black fruit, lots of spice, and incipient complexity. It will benefit from several more years of cellaring and offer prime drinking from 2014 to 2028."
"Lieblich und abgerundet, durch den Ausbau gereift, ohne jedoch seinen Charakter zu verlieren. Aromen reifer Früchte mit Mineral- und Gewürznoten. Ausgewogen im Geschmack, fleischig, süffig, weiche Tannine, mit wuchtigem Körper."
"Rubinfarben mit Granatreflexen. Sehr anregend, fein und komplex in der Nase. Zeichnet sich durch reife, rote Früchte und Gewürze aus. Am Gaumen zeichnet er sich durch seine Feinheit aus, er ist trocken, lieblich und köperreich. Sehr fleischig. Die Aromen von reifen Früchten verleihen ihm einen feinen, weichen und lang anhaltenden Abgang."
"The flagship 2007 Vall-Llach is 70% Carinena, 15% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new French oak for 14 months. Much of the Carinena is from estate vines over 100 years of age. It reveals an already complex perfume of fresh herbs, underbrush, slate, incense, and brooding black fruits that soars from the glass. Considerably more structured than its siblings, it has the stuffing to evolve for 8-10 years. Savory, plush, and built for pleasure, it will reward extended cellaring and deliver prime drinking from 2018 to 2035."
"The 2007 Idus de Vall-Llach was produced from older vines, some of it purchased, with the focus on Carinena. It received nearly the same elevage as the Embruix while spending 14 months in French oak. Purple/black in color, it exhibits a brooding aromatic array of wet stone, licorice, fruitcake, plum, and blackberry. Thick, rich, and full-bodied on the palate, it has layers of fruit, a silky texture, and impeccable balance. Give it 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2027."
“The 2007 Auditon is 100% Garnacha sourced from a single vineyard with 80- to 100-year-old vines. It spent 13 months in French oak. It offers a more complex aromatic array than the Brao cuvee with liquid minerals, smoky oak, incense, cinnamon, roasted herbs, and black cherry compote. On the palate this full-bodied, muscular, large-scaled effort is loaded with spicy black fruits and ripe tannin. Intense, concentrated, and impeccably balanced, it demands 6-8 years of cellaring. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2032.”
"Sehr dunkles Violett mit beinahe schwarzen Reflexen. In der Nase kräftig, etwas süßlich mit Portaromen. Strukturierter Wein, gut eingebundenes Holz, bereits weiche aber ausgeprägte Tannine. Lakritze und Tabak. Komplexer Klassewein mit Finesse und großem Alterungspotential."
"The flagship 2005 Vall-Llach is composed of 65% Carinena, 15% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot aged for 12 months in new French oak. Many of the Carinena vines for this cuvee are pre-phylloxera. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up a splendid aromatic array including pain grille, slate, mushroom, espresso, garrigue, blueberry, and black currant. Opulent, full-bodied, and rich, this pedal to the metal Priorat possesses 8-10 years of aging potential. The winery claims it can be cellared for up to 50 years; that could well prove true although many of us will not be around to find out or our delay of gratification will have long given out."
"Sehr dunkles Violett mit beinahe schwarzen Reflexen. In der Nase kräftig, etwas süßlich mit Portaromen. Strukturierter Wein, gut eingebundenes Holz, bereits weiche aber ausgeprägte Tannine. Lakritze und Tabak. Komplexer Klassewein mit Finesse und großem Alterungspotential."
"The flagship 2005 Vall-Llach is composed of 65% Carinena, 15% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot aged for 12 months in new French oak. Many of the Carinena vines for this cuvee are pre-phylloxera. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up a splendid aromatic array including pain grille, slate, mushroom, espresso, garrigue, blueberry, and black currant. Opulent, full-bodied, and rich, this pedal to the metal Priorat possesses 8-10 years of aging potential. The winery claims it can be cellared for up to 50 years; that could well prove true although many of us will not be around to find out or our delay of gratification will have long given out."
"The 2005 Idus is composed of 42% Carinena, 20% Merlot, 15% Garnacha, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah and spent 16 months in seasoned French oak. Dark garnet-colored, it offers up a complex perfume of wood smoke, tobacco, mineral, wild blueberry, black cherry, and black currant. This leads to a full-bodied, opulent, full-flavored wine with lots of extraction, sweet, ripe fruit, well-concealed tannins, and at least 6-8 years of aging potential. This lengthy, gratifying effort should drink well through 2030."
"Lieblich und abgerundet, durch den Ausbau gereift, ohne jedoch seinen Charakter zu verlieren. Aromen reifer Früchte mit Mineral- und Gewürznoten. Ausgewogen im Geschmack, fleischig, süffig, weiche Tannine, mit wuchtigem Körper."
"Lieblich und abgerundet, durch den Ausbau gereift, ohne jedoch seinen Charakter zu verlieren. Aromen reifer Früchte mit Mineral- und Gewürznoten. Ausgewogen im Geschmack, fleischig, süffig, weiche Tannine, mit wuchtigem Körper."
Guia Proensa: 99 Punkte Guía Peñin: 90 Punkte R. Parker: 94+
"The 2006 Vall-Llach is 65% Carinena, 20% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque purple in color, the nose offers up pain grille, liquid mineral, scorched earth, herbs, incense, and assorted black fruits. Layered, dense, and still a bit ungiving, this powerful, full-bodied wine has gobs of succulent fruit in reserve, plenty of ripe tannin, and a lengthy finish. Allow 6-8 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2016 to 2030. Vall-Llach was founded in 1992 by the famous Catalan singer Lluis Llach."
"Purple-colored, the nose offers scents of pain grille, fresh herbs, mineral, spice box, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate the wine is backward and unyielding. Full-bodied (15.5% alcohol), and packed, there is plenty of ripe tannins and excellent balance but purchasers of this wine will require patience. The 2004 Vall Llach will need a minimum of a decade of cellaring to blossom. It should easily last for several decades but will it ever be fun to drink? If I were young and a gambler, I’d lay away a handful of bottles and roll the dice later in life."
Guia Proensa: 99 Punkte Guía Peñin: 90 Punkte R. Parker: 94+
"The 2006 Vall-Llach is 65% Carinena, 20% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque purple in color, the nose offers up pain grille, liquid mineral, scorched earth, herbs, incense, and assorted black fruits. Layered, dense, and still a bit ungiving, this powerful, full-bodied wine has gobs of succulent fruit in reserve, plenty of ripe tannin, and a lengthy finish. Allow 6-8 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2016 to 2030. Vall-Llach was founded in 1992 by the famous Catalan singer Lluis Llach."
Priorat Decanter Award Winner - Rating: 95/100 Punkte (Guia Proensa 2007) R.Parker: 94 points
"The 2001 Classic is a blend of 85% Carignan (from 60-100 year old vines) and 15% Grenache. Notes of bay leaves, thyme, spice box, graphite, black currants, and cherries are present in this vibrant, cooler climate-styled Priorat. With medium to full body, excellent density, and firm tannin, it should be at its apogee between 2007-2014. It is a stunning wine."
"The purple-colored 2006 Idus is made up of 40% Carinena, 20% Merlot, 15% Garnacha, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah aged in a mix of new and used French oak for 14 months. It reveals a fragrant nose of cedar, spice box (nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon), mineral, black cherry, and licorice. Structured and a bit tightly wound on the palate, it has plenty of extract, savory flavors, excellent balance, and a lengthy finish. Give it 4-6 years in the cellar and drink it from 2014 to 2026. Vall-Llach was founded in 1992 by the famous Catalan singer Lluis Llach."
"Lieblich und abgerundet, durch den Ausbau gereift, ohne jedoch seinen Charakter zu verlieren. Aromen reifer Früchte mit Mineral- und Gewürznoten. Ausgewogen im Geschmack, fleischig, süffig, weiche Tannine, mit wuchtigem Körper."
"Lieblich und abgerundet, durch den Ausbau gereift, ohne jedoch seinen Charakter zu verlieren. Aromen reifer Früchte mit Mineral- und Gewürznoten. Ausgewogen im Geschmack, fleischig, süffig, weiche Tannine, mit wuchtigem Körper."
"Rubinfarben mit Granatreflexen. Sehr anregend, fein und komplex in der Nase. Zeichnet sich durch reife, rote Früchte und Gewürze aus. Am Gaumen zeichnet er sich durch seine Feinheit aus, er ist trocken, lieblich und köperreich. Sehr fleischig. Die Aromen von reifen Früchten verleihen ihm einen feinen, weichen und lang anhaltenden Abgang."
"Rubinfarben mit Granatreflexen. Sehr anregend, fein und komplex in der Nase. Zeichnet sich durch reife, rote Früchte und Gewürze aus. Am Gaumen zeichnet er sich durch seine Feinheit aus, er ist trocken, lieblich und köperreich. Sehr fleischig. Die Aromen von reifen Früchten verleihen ihm einen feinen, weichen und lang anhaltenden Abgang."
