2006 Cellers Ripoll Sans "Closa Batllet" Gratallops Priorat

After years of selling fruit from their 90+ year old organic and biodynamically farmed hillside estate vineyards located in Gratalops (Priorat) to the local coop, Marc Ripoll established began producing an estate wine "Closa Batllet" under the family name (Cellers Ripoll Sans) in 2000 and initiated the process of restoring the family's historic winery. "Closa Batllet" is built on a foundation the old-vine Cariñena that grows on the family's steep hillsides with slate soils, along Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, all selected from their best vineyards, with the majority coming from 90-100 years vines. The 2006 was aged for fifteen months in 86% French and 14% American oak barriques, followed by six months ageing in bottle. It offers a wildly floral and spicy nose full of crushed rocks, lavendar, and black cherry, with earthy and wood spice undertones. The palate is pure and refined, revealing an intensely layered core of fruit as it opens. It is full in the mouth with excellent flavor concentration, finely structured and polished tannins, and a long, mineral-driven finish. 60% Cariñena, 20% Garnacha, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Syrah. Aging: Aged for 15 months in French Allier and Nevers (86%) and American oak barriques (14%); 6 months in bottle he steep, slatey soils of these old vineyards produce expressive fruit of superb