Regular Price $44.99
Sale Price $39.99
93 Points Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
This wine is exclusively ours and the Barcelona Restaurants
Spain's Montsant wine region wraps like a shell around the oyster of Priorat. As insiders know this means the climatology of Montsant and higher-priced, trendy Priorat are virtually identical. Insider Alfredo Arribas, the world-renowned architect whose hand is everywhere in the vibrant, sizzling, contemporary design of Barcelona, is such an insider. His goal was to produce wines reflecting the old vine characteristics of the ampitheatre-shaped vineyards rooted in a variety of soil types ranging from granitic sand to clayey soil to licorella slate and large pebbles that allow perfect matching of each with Carinena, Garnacha and Syrah grapes. Mission accomplished. The wines are incredibly elegant yet powerful, densely concentrated and delectable. El Nido Clio lovers, for instance, will absolutely love 2007 Portal del Montsant Santbru.
Before description, I should just flat out say that this wine floored me. Tasting it became sharing a glass, then two. This wine is completely delicious yet complex and intriguing. 65% Carinena ( Carignan) from 70-year old vines, 20% Syrah, 15% Garnacha. A vivid purple-black colour with bluish tint, aromas of fresh red berries and Asian spices introduce a bouquet of mineral, anise, thyme, espresso and wild blueberry. The frankly sexy palate is a Rubenesque, luxurious density of black and blue fruits representing the small crus of five vineyards all facing south and southwest. Elegantly structured tannins create a harmonious finish that is concentrated, yet with significant lift and clarity. 93 points from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate for this wine that impresses us most with its twin virtues of depth of richness and perfect balance. Beautifully made from tremendous quality fruit, the Montsant growers rate 2007 as Excellente. Reflective of the tremendous value Montsant represents our price is $39.99. Even knowing all we do about the superb wine coming from Montsant, we were caught off guard by just how mind-ripping this wine is . Do not miss this revelation.

Tasting Notes: The 2007 Santbru is the Bodega's flagship. It is composed of 65% Carinena from 70-year-old vines with the balance Garnacha and Syrah aged for 14 months in 80% new French oak. Purple/black colored, it exhibits a compelling, slightly roasted bouquet of mineral, anise, thyme, espresso, plum, and blueberry jam. Buxom on the palate with dense black and blue fruit, loads of mineral, and spice, and good integration of the oak, it will benefit from 2-3 years of additional cellaring and provide a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2022.