Vall Llach Embruix Priorat 2004 Tuesday, Mar 27 2007
Tasting Notes and Spain and Wines of the Month and Imported and Variety and Red and grenache et al
I was mightily impressed with the 2003, so had high expectations for this new vintage. A vivid purple/black in colour, and a simply gorgeous nose: blackberry liqueur, roasted nuts, baked cinnamon, red liquorice, red stones and a bit of clay, black boulders. The palate is beautiful, ripe black fruits with a stony savouriness, an amazing concentration, supple and sexy tannins, so much so that they should entry a beauty contest. So drinkable now, but has potential to get better I reckon. And there is so much happening, a wine to swirl and become immersed in. And can you believe this is their entry level wine: they have two “better” wines: the Idus and eponymous Vall Llach. Imported by Negociants.
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Mar07
Alcohol : 15.1%
Price : $60
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 - 2014
Source : Wine Emporium
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March 27th, 2007 at 11:20 am| Quote |
Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear.
2004 Spain is looking very tempting…….
GW
March 27th, 2007 at 11:25 am| Quote |
Yes, this is seriously good.
I am selling some wine to fund purchasing.
March 27th, 2007 at 11:42 am| Quote |
What is the cepage?
GW
March 27th, 2007 at 11:50 am| Quote |
Yes 04 Spain is very nasty. I am considering all offers on a partly used set of kidneys….
Didn’t realise this was out yet (or is it an early realease?), I’ll have to grab some…The big daddy Vall Llach is the bee’s knees apparently.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:05 pm| Quote |
> What is the cepage?
Dunno.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:16 pm| Quote |
Looks similar each year. 2003 was
30% Cariñena..
28% Cabernet Sauvignon.
22% Garnacha.
5% Merlot
15% Syrah
GW
March 27th, 2007 at 1:22 pm| Quote |
Mixing Rhone and Bordeaux varieties creates instant complexity if done right too. Not a good Options wine though…..
March 27th, 2007 at 6:27 pm| Quote |
>red stones
>a bit of clay
>black boulders
>stony savouriness
have you been in the rockery again?
March 28th, 2007 at 3:14 am| Quote |
I disagree with the scoring!
I tasted this wine last december and he is totally overrated. Here is my TN:
I drink this wine now over 2 days and I get down to the nitty gritty that I am not so much impressed from this famous “Embruix”. Of course, he is in an early fruit-stage, so we should show mercy. On the first day, he was clearly dominated by huge “Mon Chéri”-flavors. Mon Chéri is a famous candy in Germany, it is a cherry soaked in alcohol and wrapped up in chocolate. Really, this was all straight from the bottle. On the second day, the flavors are more settled and shows a little bit more finesse with flavors of blackberry, cherry, chocolate and a touch of liquer. Where is the famous minerality or funky-earthy from Priorat? I have to say that I am getting bored by this sweet,flamboyant and easy-drinking wines from Spain. Yes, your mother-in-law or wine-newbies will love this wine…….
88pts.
Greetings from Berlin,
Martin
March 28th, 2007 at 7:38 am| Quote |
> Mixing Rhone and Bordeaux varieties creates instant complexity if done right too.
> Not a good Options wine though…..
Ahem, you mean Spanish varieties don’t you
March 28th, 2007 at 12:14 pm| Quote |
Don’t know the wine. Can’t wait to try it. Is that a normal alcohol level for the label?
March 28th, 2007 at 12:35 pm| Quote |
Well, normal for the region. 13.5 to 15 seems to be where most Priorats sit.
March 28th, 2007 at 1:41 pm| Quote |
Good point Shaggy.
And good quality 15% alc Priorats cellar without too many problems?
March 28th, 2007 at 2:31 pm| Quote |
I didn’t notice the alcohol, at the time or the next morning
March 28th, 2007 at 2:39 pm| Quote |
I’ll say a qualified yes for the major producers, of which Vall Llach, Clos Mogodor and Alvaro Placios are represented in Aus, some others such as Pasanau are available as well. I’ve had some of these wines back to 94 and they are drinking very well now, have gained complexity/tannins have resolved etc.
Modern Priorat is only 20 years old and the cepage changes from wine to wine, some are more cabernet or gararcha etc. So its hard to give a blanket statement on.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:46 pm| Quote |
High alcohol wines are hot!
GW
March 28th, 2007 at 3:31 pm| Quote |
The 95 Clos Mogador was nearly 15%, hardly showed. Nice enough wine, closest style I can think of is Barolo mainyl cos of the tannin structure. It had aged well, drinking nicely now.
March 28th, 2007 at 9:04 pm| Quote |
P.S. I drank yesterday an 2004 Mas Igneus “FA 2006″ from Priorat which showed more finesse based on a good minerality and acidity.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:07 am| Quote |
You are all very wise people. This is a delicious wine, showing much better from bottle than it did from barrel.
I’ll find my notes from the delightful Bibi and let you know the cepage later…
March 29th, 2007 at 8:42 am| Quote |
Surely all the varieties are kept separate? Did you taste the components or was it all blended up?
GW
March 29th, 2007 at 10:20 am| Quote |
Just checked notes - the only 2004 I saw there was 90 year old Carinena and more than 16% alc. I’ve noted that the last parcels of fruit were harvested on 26 November, and they got 300-500 grams of fruit per vine. 100% wild yeast fermentation, 14-21 days ferment plus 7 days post-ferment maceration.
By the way, they make an amazing olive oil from alberquino olives. Priorat is just amazing.
March 29th, 2007 at 10:53 am| Quote |
GW, It depends on the vineyards a lot of the time. Some vineyards have the major components seperated by variety and then vinified seperatly, other do the field blend thing and it all gets made in a couple of big lots. Sometimes its a mix.
You’ve been there, you should be telling me!
March 29th, 2007 at 10:55 am| Quote |
I never pay much attention. I am vague….
GW
March 29th, 2007 at 11:19 am| Quote |
24 November! That’s pretty late.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:06 am| Quote |
Tried this two nights ago and was ridiculously impressed. The Spanish have a lot to thank new world cleanliness for.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm| Quote |
We had a bottle of this tonight with ‘ol Dodders. Big wine. Quite a bit of alcohol, lovely flavours, and very firm quite raspy tannins. Like it a lot but quite a handful.
GW