I’m in Priorat with big hopes. The region became a big name in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with top class wines emerging from Alvaro Palacios, Rene Barbier et al. After just six hours here, I’ve been given the opportunity to taste more than 80 wines from the area. And I am underwhelmed.
There have been a few star wineries: Mas Doix, Sangenis I Vaque and Conreria d’Scala Dei. But there have been a lot of very average wines too. I reckon all the hype surrounding Priorat has set my bar way too high. Spanish expert, John Radford, told me that even in the best regions there was still a lot of crap – and his words rang true tonight.
Nevertheless, I have been astounded by the breathtaking scenery – it’s like the Douro Valley but without the Douro. And there’s definitely a style that could make me a convert to Priorat: elegant, fleshy fruit with a silky palate and mouthwatering acidity to finish. However, if I want to continue drinking these wines I’ll have to marry a rich man. Unless my lovely boyfriend wins the lottery (I bought him a scratchcard at the weekend: he didn’t win) the wines of Priorat will remain elusive except for on press trips. I am hoping I will have better things to report tomorrow…
Hasta manana amigos…
