PROYECTO GARNACHAS | Fosca del Priorat | 2021
grenache | carignan | merlot | cabernet sauvignon
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The other wine that we are reviewing today is quite special, as this is a wine blend from Spain’s famous Priorat region – Fosca del Priorat 2021 by Proyecto Garnachas. Priorat produces some of the finest and most expensive wines in Spain and today, it is hard to imagine that 20 years ago this entire area and its wines were nearly forgotten. The wines made here carry the signature of the region’s soils – the llicorella soil mix of granite and slate that adds a firm mineral note to every wine. The story of this particular wine begins with an adventure, when the father of Raúl Acha wanted to uproot the old garnacha (the local name of the grenache grape variety) vines, but Raúl opposed his father, and to prove his point, he sets out on a journey through the Ebro Valley, where he choses six small areas to settle down and start the Proyecto Garnachas. Fosca del Priorat embeds the character and the personality of a unique territory – a harmonious blend of four grape varieties (garnacha, cariñena, merlot and cabernet sauvignon) made of grapes sourced from 60 years old vines, planted predominately on slate soils (the famous pissarra soil) at an altitude of 310 meters. In order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity, the final blend has been aged for 10 months in french oak barriques, both new and used. But enough with all that theory, that said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:
//Visual
color: medium-pale ruby color
clarity: hazy ruby shades on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & confied
fruit character: confied & baked
The first impression on the nose is undeniably captivating. A burst of ripe and jammy red fruit aromas takes center stage, reminiscent of confied sweet cherries and cranberries that have been preserved in a rich syrup. Hints of dehydrated strawberries and redcurrants emerge as well, but with a pronounced sweetness and richness that suggests the fruit has been cooked or baked. Intriguingly, there’s a lack of any noticeable background aromas, leaving the focus entirely on the upfront fruit character. This suggests a potentially youthful wine, where the primary fruit notes are still dominant.
//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium | tannin: medium | balance: good
finish: medium | aftertaste: seedy
The palate mirrors the nose with an explosion of ripe and jammy fruit flavors, reminiscent of cherries, strawberries, and plums cooked down into a sweet compote. However, there’s an unexpected twist – a subtle hint of oxidation emerges alongside the confied fruit, presenting a touch of raisin and a leathery character. The wine’s crisp acidity keeps the wine refreshing, while the ripe and slightly grippy tannins offers some extra structure without being harsh. A touch of warmth adds depth, but lingers a bit too prominently on the finish, alongside the seedy character and a hint of oxidation. Despite the richness of the fruit, the mouthfeel leans towards the lighter side, offering plumpness with a touch of opulence.
//Verdict
maturity: slightly oxidized | drink now or in the a year
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of fine quality
Despite its plump and slightly opulent mouthfeel, overall the wine creates a quite round and a bit flat impression. This suggests the wine may have suffered from premature oxidation, which has dulled some of the vibrancy of the fruit, while still retaining some of the varietal characteristics of the grenache grape variety. This is a wine that might be enjoyable for those wine enthusiasts who appreciate a red wine from a hot climate, but make no mistake, this one here lacks the complexity one might expect from an old vine garnacha wine. Just keep in mind that it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late.
//Scoring
PROYECTO GARNACHAS | Fosca del Priorat | 2021
variety: grenache | carignan | merlot | cabernet sauvignon
country: Spain
region: Catalonia | Priorat
rating: 92.8
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This is definitely a fine wine of Spain and, with a total of 92.8 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.
Pairing: Due to the wine’s emphasis on sweet fruit flavors with that subtle touch of oxidation, it would be best suited for richer and slightly sweet dishes, like for example duck à l’orange. The sweetness of the orange glaze would complement nicely the confied fruit character of the wine, while the richness of the duck would stand up to the wine’s slightly opulent mouthfeel. In the same key, those hints of oxidation in the wine would echo the browned flavors of the duck, creating a harmonious pairing experience. This is a pairing that allows both the sweet and savory elements of the food and wine to shine through. Salud!
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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.
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WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
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WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a monthly donation so that we can review even more wines.
WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a yearly donation so that we can review even more wines.
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