Articles
Les Sentius in the center, a historical paratge of Porrera/Falset

Explaining paratge/paraje certifications in Catalan wine

by  |  03-07-2017

With the publication of my lengthy article at Meininger’s explaining the new certifications of DOQ Priorat, it’s worth standing back from this for a moment and understanding a key term that everyone in the wine... more »

The first “Tastets de Gratallops” village wine tasting

by  |  05-06-2017

When it comes to the wine-producing villages of DOQ Priorat, Gratallops is by far the most dominant. With about 22 cellars located within the village boundaries, they have have over 25% of the registered cellars... more »

Álvaro Palacios en primeur 2016

by  |  29-05-2017

Due to research for another another article with Meininger’s, I paid a visit to Álvaro Palacios last month for a chat and, being the consummate showman that he is (the classy booklet above was for... more »

Tast del Decenni of 2007 in 2017

by  |  11-05-2017

What is now my fourth sojourn into the world of Priorat wine with a decade to its name, I attended the Tast del Decenni or “Decade Tasting” last week. You can read the notes of... more »

Tast del Decenni of 2007 DOQ Priorat

by  | 

Following are the tastings notes for the 2007 DOQ Priorat wines. Please read my reflections on this tasting and the vintage as a whole first. Not that while I’m quite happy normally using my three... more »

Another great year in the square for Nit de les Carinyenes

by  |  02-05-2017

Nit de les Carinyenes (“The night of the Carignans”) just saw its 9th edition last week. For those who sadly may yet be unaware of this event, it’s put on yearly by the Porrera Cellars... more »

Building a wine & the art of the blend

by  |  21-02-2017

There are those that say winemaking is an art, but in truth, making the wine is a relatively simplistic process as it just comes down to letting grape juice ferment. Sure, there are many more... more »

Sangenís i Vaqué – Lo Bancal de Granatxa 2015

by  |  31-01-2017

Across the square from my home sits the family winery of Sangenís i Vaqué. It was founded by Pere Sangenís and his wife, Conxita Vaqué, who have run it for years, thus the quite reasonable... more »

Finding the finesse in a ‘rancid wine’

by  |  02-01-2017

It may impossible when gazing upon the crumbling slate and the rugged landscape, but in 1893 phylloxera arrived to the Catalan county of Priorat, starting in the village of Porrera. From there it spread rapidly... more »

Vi Ranci in World of Fine Wine

by  |  13-12-2016

My personal history with the wine known as Vi Ranci goes as such: I tried it for the first time about eight years ago and didn’t know what to make of it, I tried it... more »