1194 Perinet 2016

The colour is medium ruby with hints of purple. The nose is dominated by forest underground, accompanied by fruit under spirit, smoky notes and some liquorice. In the mouth smooth, with a drying finish that last much less than you would expect.

This wine is a blend of 62% Garnatxa, 31% Carinyena and 7% Syrah. It is priced at a hefty 120 EUR by Perinet Winery, which is located among the astonishing landscape of the Priorat DOQ.

It took me quite a bit of persistence to get to visit Perinet Winery. The first time I went over I didn’t find anybody there to welcome me. I later discovered they were out with other visitors and that I should have called in advance, which I did a few times without success after my first attempt. Fortunately, I spent three days in the Priorat region and was able to visit the winery the following day. The experience has been well worth the troubles.

Our host Sara has been extremely hospitable. She took us around the vineyards and the winery, and she made us taste from tanks and barrels. But above all she shared her knowledge about the region and its wines, and she dedicated us time and attention, making this visit one of the best I ever had.

As it is nowadays the case with many wineries of Priorat, Perinet estate is a foreign owned propriety and is surrounded by local varietals like Carignan and Grenache as well as international French grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.

Although it was the Carthusian monks that brought the vines from Provence in the 12th century and their Monastery of Scala Dei represents the birthplace of wine-making in the Priorat region, it was the work of René Barbier, Carles Pastrana, José Luis Pérez in the ‘80s and later some others including Álvaro Palacios, who improved the quality of the wines and launched Priorat DOQ (with the Q awarded in 2000) into its present fame among the top class wines of the world.

I heard and read a lot about the harsh landscape of this wine region, but it is only when you visit Priorat that you can get a full appreciation of it and its seclusion. Although it is located only 45 minutes drive from Tarragona and some 90 minutes from Barcellona, the area is nestled among the Montsant mountain range and gives a feeling of isolation.

The vineyards are characterised by the slate and quartz-laden soils, known as llicorella, that define the Priorat. In conditions almost impossible for other plants to grow, the vines thrive in their search for water and nutrients. The result are interesting and rich wines that unfortunately commands corresponding prices.

Country: Spain
Region: Priorat
Grapes: Grenache, Carignan, Syrah
Type: Red
Vintage: 2016
Producer: Perinet Winery
Price range: Luxury (>100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5