2021 Terroir al Limit Priorat Historic Negre, Catalonia

The red 2021 Terroir Históric has moderate ripeness and 13.5% alcohol from a slightly cooler year that resulted in a tighter wine that is a little closed. It was bottled a little earlier with good freshness, more vertical and a little reticent but with balance. It has purity and is clean, with fine tannins. It aged exclusively in stainless steel (in the past they used concrete). It's medium-bodied, fresh and easy to drink.

93 points Luis Gutiérrez robertparker.com

The Históric Negre is 75% Grenache and 25% Carignan—roughly the same blend as used in this region a generation ago. A healthy dose of the Grenache was grown in La Morera, high in the Montsant ranges on clay/limestone soils. The remainder of the fruit came from vines throughout Priorat, grown on slate and schist, providing savoury minerality. Fermented as whole clusters with indigenous yeasts, the wine was then aged for six months in a 5,000-litre concrete tank.

The style is juicy, lifted and enticing; floral tones over cherry fruit, subtle spice and earthy, smoky tones. It’s a lovely, old-is-new-again Priorat, packed with pure fruit and minerality, with no hint of oak treatment. It has a long, juicy finish with just a pinch of very fine tannins. As is custom, this represents outstanding value for money, and we challenge you to stop at just one glass. Hands down the finest red we have tasted under this label.