
Hot New Arrivals from Priorat!
The powerful wines of Spain's rugged Priorat region are known for their opaque color, concentrated mouthfeel and deliciously dark flavors. With plenty of upfront fruit and spicy oak, these impactful wines have drawn comparisons to those from regions ranging from Napa Valley, the Rhône and Bordeaux alike. In reality, they have a character and charisma that is all their own.
As a result of the area's notoriously jagged terrain, the vineyards are difficult to farm, and bargain priced bottlings that express the true character of this singular appellation are rare. In fact, aside from Eric Solomon's "Black Slate" series, the category of quality Priorat at an affordable price doesn't really exist.
Eric uses his position as Priorat's top importer to "politely strong arm" several of his favorite producers into bottling jointly-labeled Black Slate wines. Today, we bring you the wine from Conreria d'Scala Dei. Representing the unique character of their vineyards in the village of Escaladei, this beautiful red is bursting at the seams with Priorat deliciousness, yet we are able to bring it to you for a not-so-Priorat price of only $18.99.
Complementing this best-of-Priorat bargain is a bottling of one of the absolute best wines in all of Priorat. The 2021 Clos Mogador is a cellarworthy 98-Point masterpiece, and we’re letting it fly today at one of the country’s best prices. Scroll down to read more about both wines, then hit that Big Green Button to grab your share while our supply lasts!
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2021 Conreria d'Scala Dei "Black Slate"
Escaladei, Priorat, Spain
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This wine is really strutting its stuff. Bundled up with soft, caressing tannins and mesmerizing florality, it totally punches above its humble price
The palate greets you from the first sip with flavors of cherry and raspberry, with notes of rosemary and lilac among the additional complexities revealed with each swirl of the glass. If you have the restraint to not empty the entire bottle on the first night, this savory wine will evolve into something even more beautiful over the course of a couple of days.
Wine Advocate wrote this 92+ Point review a 12 months ago. With another year in bottle, it is really rocking now!
“The village red 2021 Black Slate Escaladei was produced with Garnacha and 3% Syrah from vines planted in 1978 and 2001 in the village of Scaladei. Fifty percent of the Garnacha fermented with full clusters with a soft vinification. The wine matured in 3,000- and 5,000-liter Stockinger oak foudres. It has a bright ruby color, very Garnacha, with an herbal and slightly reduced personality but with floral tones and a pretty nose. It has a medium-bodied palate with very fine tannins and a long dry, tasty finish. Pretty elegant. It has 13.94% alcohol, a pH of 3.27 and six grams of acidity. 14,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2022. Drink Date: 2024 - 2028.”
- 92+ Points, Wine Advocate (5/16/24)
This seriously tasty wine will make a drippingly delicious companion to an array of grilled foods including pork chops, sausages, burgers, or a tender Filet Mignon. You simply can’t go wrong with having a handful of bottles around to pop any night of the week.
Wine Advocate quotes this at $25, and it is worth every penny of that amount. Don’t let the crazy low price fool you, this is really good stuff, and our supply will vanish in a flash!
Vin Chicago Price: 18.99
Plus the 98-Point New Release from Clos Mogador!
Along with Clos Erasmus and L’Ermita, René Barbier's Clos Mogador stands at the top of the Priorat pyramid. Produced in small quantities and sold in six bottle cases, it is a wine to try at least once in your life. This bottling from the excellent 2021 vintage is a perfect opportunity. Scroll down to read the 98- and 97-Point reviews from Wine Advocate and Vinous, then click quickly to secure your bottles!
2021 Clos Mogador
Priorat, Spain
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“The eponymous red 2021 Clos Mogador fermented with some 30% full clusters trying to give it more freshness (but without noticing the stems) with a long maceration (40 to 50 days) and (almost) no punching down, with less extraction. There's been a progressive change in the vineyard (they removed the south-facing Cabernet Sauvignon), and they increased Cariñena (around 30%), which in the future will be almost as much as Garnacha. It has aromatic complexity and a beautiful texture. It matured in 2,000-liter oak foudres and a small part in barrel and later in concrete. The wine has 14% alcohol and has the Priorat, Mogador and Mediterranean character (wet slate, graphite, aromatic herbs) with more elegance and freshness. The tannins are also a lot more elegant, and the wine comes through as very balanced. They produced 35,000 bottles of this. It was bottled in June 2023. Drink Date: 2025 - 2036.”
- 98 Points, Wine Advocate (5/16/2024)
“The 2021 Clos Mogador comprises 45% Garnatxa, 29% Carinyena, 16% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged for 18 months in foudres. Garnet in color, it features liqueur-like aromas of blackcurrant and plum, along with earthy notes and hints of iron and blood. Dry and compact, it flows with fine-grained tannins, a dusty texture and a juicy, flavorful mouthfeel. The finish is exceptionally long, with nuanced complexity. This is one of those rare wines that can shift one's perception of what’s possible in the Priorat region. Clos Mogador is one of the few wineries that put Priorat on the fine wine map in the early 1990s, and the 2021 vintage is yet another example that justifies that recognition. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2036.”
- 97 Points, Vinous - Joaquin Hidalgo (11/2024)
The median online retail of $115 is quite a bit less than what you'll pay for a bottle of Clos Erasmus or L'Ermita. Our special price is even less!
Vin Chicago Price: 89.99
Also available are a handful of 1.5 liter magnums