Bon Mas Priorat 2020

cherry pie filling, black licorice, vanilla wafers and graphite

The Priorat is one of the most popular wine producing regions in Spain, where ancient vines of Garnacha and Carignan rise out of steep hillsides of slate, locally known as Llicorella. This imparts a striking mineral quality to the wines, a bit like touching a lead pencil to your tongue. This version shows a bit of the modern side as it also spends a few months in American oak barrels.

Decant this wine for a half hour before serving, but make sure to take a taste while your are waiting. I find that Priorats evolve and the mineral quality comes out slowly as you drink the bottle. The nose of this one is cherry pie filling, black licorice, vanilla wafers and of course, graphite. It shows nicely rich and smooth on the palate, with some tannins that rise near the finish. A fellow retail friend of mine loves this wine with grilled skirt steak, but anything that involves a little char will work well. Drink now to 2029.