2015 Arbossar

The old-vine Cariñena 2015 Arbossar has a distinct note of licorice that grows in the glass. By working the vineyard with compost, they have managed to increase yields around 15%, and they feel the grapes achieve better balance, which is very difficult to see in the very poor llicorella slate soils that have almost no organic matter. It's a north-facing slope planted some 90 years ago, and the grapes are very concentrated, so it's a challenge to achieve a floral and fresh Cariñena like this, with notes of blue fruit and violets, quite different from the majority of Cariñena from Priorat. It matured in Stockinger oak foudres for 16 months, and like the majority of wines here, it shows perfectly integrated oak, with just faint spices nicely intermixed with the fruit. There is no heat at all; it's a cool vineyard, and that freshness is translated into the wine and is especially noticeable in a warm and ripe year like 2015. Superb showing for the Arbossar—it has to be one of the best vintages ever. 3,900 bottles were filled in April 2017.

Very intense blue fruits with iodine, graphite and violet undertones. Full body, dense and layered. Fine texture yet round tannins. Like two wines in one. Starts structured then turns refined. Extremely drinkable. Drink now or hold.

I loved the 2015 L’Arbossar, which is 100% old vine Carinyena from a cooler north facing terroir that spent two years in a single foudre. Fermented with 100% stems, its deep ruby, mostly opaque color is followed by a sensational perfume of blackberries, black raspberries, liquid violets, gunpowder, and an undeniable minerality. One of those rich, powerful, yet elegant reds that just glides across the palate, it has ultra-fine tannin, notable purity and freshness, and a great finish. Drink this gorgeous Priorat over the coming 8-10 years.