Clos Martinet 2003 Priorat - Red Wine

Red Wine by Clos Martinet from Priorat, Spain. Clos Martinet is owned by Jose Luis Perez, one of the original Priorat pioneers (along with Rene Barbier, Alvaro Palacios and Carles Pastrana) who made their first wine together in 1989. Jose Luis has now handed over day-to-day responsibilities to his talented daughter, Sara, and under her dynamic direction the estate is making what for many critics is the most sophisticated and elegant of the great Priorat 'clos'. There are two estate wines. Martinet Bru is the younger vine cuvee, super-fruity, approachable in its youth, and excellent value. This initiative also ensures the consistently outstanding quality of the top wine, Clos Martinet, because only the best parcels are blended in. The 2003 Clos Martinet ratchets it up to another level. Opaque purple in color, it has an expressive nose of vanilla, scorched earth, plums, black cherries, and blueberries. Medium to full-bodied, on the palate it is nearly seamless with light, ripe and well integrated tannin. The finish is long and pure. Give this elegant Priorat 1-3 additional years of bottle age and drink it over the following 10. -Wine Advocate Dark ruby. Singed, herb-inflected cherry and plum aromas, with suggestions of espresso, licorice and grilled meat. Weighty and rich but not overly thick, with sweet cherry, plum preserve and chocolate flavors accented by dried herbs and flowers. Ripe to be sure, but firmed by gentle acids that brighten the finish, which features youthful tannins and a warm, sweet note of cherry jam. This rather suave wine is drinking well right now. -International Wine Cellar