Priorat, a small, rugged appellation in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, rose to sudden fame around the turn of the century. The wines, drawn from old vine garnacha and cariñena, garnered international attention and were rich, muscular and oak-laden and bombastic in style. The most highly regarded wines became expensive quickly too, rivalling those from the Southern Rhone, to which they were most often compared.
Internationally those styles of wine have largely fallen out of favour as consumers look more towards purity and elegance and it seems that this turn of fashion has been transformative in Priorat. Today, the finest examples of modern Priorat have shed the oak and extraction and instead are beautifully perfumed, lithe and mineral driven. These are, for the most part, still not wines of delicacy but they now show remarkable clarity of site, which brings us to our upcoming masterclass.
Now that the true terroir of Priorat is beginning to shine once again, it is important to adjust our thinking about how we understand the region. Switching to a Burgundian model, Priorat can be divided into villages, and it is through those geographical denominations that we can now start to appreciate just what this remarkable terroir has to offer.
There is no one better to take you on this Priorat journey than Scott Wasley. His import business The Spanish Acquisition has transformed the way Australian's think about Spanish wines over the last couple of decades. No one we know can talk so informatively and passionately about Spain's vinous delights and those lucky enough to attend this masterclass with Scott will walk away armed with a far deeper understanding and brimming passion for Priorat and its villages.
The masterclass will run for two hours from 12-2pm on Saturday the 24th July and will feature the 9 wines below along with some light snacks. Bookings are essential.
Priorat Vi de Vila Garnatxa 2019
Mas Doix 'Les Crestes' Poboleda Garnatxa 2019
Aixala i Alcait 'Destrankis' Garnatxa 2018
Aixala i Alcait 'Les Clivelles' Vineyard Caranyena 2018
Cellar Cecilio 'Negre' 2018
Alvaro Palacios Gratallops 2018
Blai Ferre Just 'Billo' single vineyard Massos de Falset Garnatxa blend 2019
Blai Ferre Just 'Desnivell' 2015
Xavi Palleja 'Buxus de les Aubagues' Carinyena-Garnatxa 2018