Cal Batllet, Gratallops 5 Partides, Priorat, Catalonia, 2010

Cal Batllet (founded 2000) works out of the old family cellar in Gratallops, drawing on terraced vineyards up to 40 years old, and slopes up to 100 years. Says Marc Ripoll Sans ‘Cariñena is our star variety, because these oldest vines are on the steepest slopes in the warmest orientations.’ He is a staunch defender of the ‘Vi de Vila’ village classification and Cal Batllet is currently the only winery to use ‘Vi de Vila’ for all its wines. The 5 Partides comes from five parcels that are farmed organically, and is aged for 16 months in new French oak. Just 2,800 bottles of the 2010 vintage were produced.   Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW <br /> Serious, restrained, deep, complex aromas. Linear, austere, meaty, idiosyncratic, original and long. A distinctive wine.   Sarah Jane Evans MW <br /> Dense, powerful nose, finely smoky. Palate is equally dense and ripe. Powerfully bold wine, plump expression of Cariñena; grainy tannins. Exceptionally long. Just at its right point.   Pierre Mansour <br /> Wonderful nose, fine, floral, crisp palate, primary and youthful, a classic example of fine old-vine Priorat Cariñena. Plump and generous, this promises to age well. People will love it.