Good People. Great Wine.
It has been a few years since 2001 was a current vintage, and while Montsant wines can age, this one doesn’t seem to be going anywhere in particular. The nose is overdone with heavy mint, menthol and cinnamon-driven oak, while the palate is jumpy and tannic. Not a cheap wine, but also not that great. 1 Note
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This old-vine Grenache is unique and surprising, with its touch of lilac and currant on the nose, followed by full-bodied, lush berry and currant flavors. It’s tannic and needs to age, but should develop into a velvety, integrated treat with a few years on it. One of the better kosher wines on the market. 1 Note
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From a brutally hot vintage, this shows plenty of mineral, schist and cola aromas along with impeccably smooth fruit. It’s a little racy and sheer in the mouth, but food will balance that without a problem. And along the way you should enjoy the licorice, cherry, kirsch and other crafty nuances that this fine blend of Cabernet, Garnacha and Carignan has to offer. Drink now through 2009. 1 Note
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Very big, modern, sweet and oaky. And that doesn’t mean it’s bad, because the richness, high alcohol (15%), buttery barrel notes and candy-like qualities are all rendered well. Still, be on the watch for creamy oak, cinnamon, café mocha and butter more than precise, angular fruit character. Should get more integrated with another year of bottle age. The boisterous blend is Garnacha, Syrah and Mazuelo. 1 Note
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A millennium wine that’s now in fine form. It’s a typical Garnacha-Cariñena blend that runs heavy on Garnacha. The bouquet is strong and evolved, with leather and mineral along with aromas of crushed flower petals, asphalt and earth. Excellent fruit quality in the mouth; vivid with raspberry and black pepper. 800 cases made. Imported by multiple importers. 1 Note
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This is small-production, old-vines Cariñena with the full allotment of French oak aging. It is a little syrupy on the nose, but its schisty blackberry and licorice aromas and flavors give it a Priorat quality. What’s holding it back is jumpy acidity that brings the mouthfeel down a notch or two. Best with food. 1 Note
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Soft and buttery on the nose, with a touch of pear. Shy pear and apple flavors drive toward a modest finish that’s dry and almondy. Smooth on the palate, but not dynamic. This is intended to be a prestige Chardonnay, yet while it has mouthfeel there’s not a whole lot of zest or character. 1 Note
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Though handsomely balanced, this medium-weight Chardonnay shows only modest complexity, with apple, tropical fruit and mild toasty notes on the nose and palate. A slight caramel note gives a vaguely sweet cast to the basically dry fruit flavors. Has appeal and some length, but it’s not the statement one would expect at the price. —M.M. 1 Note
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This barrel-fermented, pricey Chardonnay is heavy and doesn’t have much life in it. The nose is flat and mildly oaky, while the palate is immensely woody, with low-level acidity and buttery, baked-apple flavors. To say it doesn’t hit hard is an understatement. But to say it’s outright bad would be overly harsh. 1 Note
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Milmanda is 100% Chardonnay from Catalonia, but this vintage is a touch flatter than previous years. The nose is nice, offering spring flowers, vanilla and nutmeg. The flavors lean toward tropical fruit, especially banana. The warm finish is where you first catch some spicy oak. Too bad it isn’t more lively. 1 Note
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Cellers Baronia del Montsant Red Blend - 2001
