2010 Mas d'en Compte "Black Slate" Porrera Priorat

From the Black Slate project of Eric Solomon, Philippe Cambie and, in this case, producer Joan Sangenis, the 2010 Black Slate Porrera, a blend of 60% Grenache (60+ years of age) and 40% Carignan (80-year-old vines), is another stunning value from Priorat. Consumers can thank the horrible Spanish economy for the low price of such a high quality wine from this prestigious appellation. Sweet raspberry and black cherry fruit notes intermixed with notions of crushed rocks, spring flowers and a slate-like component are broad, savory, impressively pure, dense and full. This round, generous, opulent red can be consumed over the next decade. (6/ 2012)

Not to be confused with an earlier bottling of Black Slate we carried in our wine club, this particular version from Mas d'en Compte showcases fruit from the village of Porrera. Compared to their neighbors in Gratallops, Porrera enjoys slightly a slightly cooler climate and a streak of iron laced in their slate vineyards; this gives the wines a different sense of structure from other Priorats. The Mas d'en Compte bottling of Black Slate the lush black cherry fruit, some minerality, ripe tannins and a subtle meaty character towards the finish. Drink it over the next several years.