Priorat, Spain — blend of Garnacha and Carignan (Samsó)
Pronounced aromas of wild berries, black cherry, and Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and fennel lead the nose, with hints of red pepper spice and a touch of nutmeg from oak maturation. On the palate it is juicy and full-bodied, with fine tannins and ripe acidity, balanced by a mineral slate character and a long, balsamic finish. Pair it with grilled lamb chops, aged Manchego, spicy chorizo, or a rich mushroom ragout. Produced by I Tant Vins, a Catalan winery that works with old vines in Priorat. The llicorella soils (poor slate soils) force vine roots deep into fissures to find water and nutrients, giving wines a striking minerality and concentration.