The Santbru Carinyenes Veller 2007 is elaborated with Cariñena 65%, Syrah 20% y Garnacha 15%. The 2007 vintage is characterized by its special dryness due to the significant absence of rain in the Spring and the Summer. Aged for 16 months in new French oak barrels.
Tasting notes: Purple black colour with a bluish edge. Nose: fresh red berries and Asian spice. Mineral, anise, thyme, espresso and wild blueberry. Palate: juicy, dense black and blue fruits. Pulpy tanins.
What the critics say...
Robert Parker: 93 points(01/04/2010)
The 2007 Santbru is the Bodega's flagship. It is composed of 67% 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.
Proensa Guide: 87 points
Peñin Guide: 92 points(01/01/2012)
Intense cherry red colur, violet rim. On nose, balanced, expressive, ripe fruit, sweet spices, fine cocoa. On palate, structured, full-bodied, spicy, long.
Pairing: Aged Cheese, Game Animals, Grilled Red Meats, Legume, Roasts, Stews.
Since 2001, in Priorat, near the villages of Bellmunt, el Molar and El LLoar, architect Alfredo Arribas has been developing the Clos de Portal wine project: restoring neglected terraced plots and banks known as 'costers', working with a wide assortment of grape varieties and clones, putting to use... the latest techniques in organic viticulture; all of which are reflected in the cutting-edge winery integrated to the landscape.
In 2003, he and Richard Rofes began the Portal del Montsant winery in the former winery cooperative of Marçà, a building dedicated to winemaking since the start of the previous century.
In 2007, the world famous enologist Stephen Pannell joined the project, bringing his immense creativity.
This new winery in Montsant is notable for its use of traditional varieties: garnatxa and carinyena, above all, which predominates in the south-eastern areas of the Denomination of Origen. The fine, aromatic and elegant wines take their name from the founder of the Carthusian order, present in the Priorat region from 1194 and which helped establish viticulture here.
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