We love Priorat here at Farmstead! The tiny Spanish region excels at producing brooding, long-lived reds, and Vall Llach, founded in the early 1990s, is no exception. It’s located in the small Catalonian village of Porerra surrounded by steep slate hillsides planted with 60-90-year-old Grenache and Carignan vines (the two traditional red grapes of the region). The estate also has younger plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.

The Idus is a blend of 45% Carignan, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Grenache, and 10% Syrah. Fifty percent of the wine went through malolactic fermentation in tank and 50% in barrel. The wine was then aged in French Oak, 40% new. It’s a bold, earthy red that is just now entering its window of drinkability. Decant and enjoy with roasted meat dishes or hard Spanish cheeses.

Vall Llach Idus - $60
91 points - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The color is saturated purple and the aromatics quite restrained. With vigorous swirling, elements of smoke, earth, mineral, and blackberry reluctantly emerge. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and tightly wound although the raw materials are all there. The fruit is layered and concentrated, the components in balance, and there is enough structure for long-term cellaring. Drink it through 2027.

91 points - Wine Spectator
A solid red, with plum, dark chocolate and mineral notes. The muscular tannins overshadow the fruit, but there's enough acidity for freshness and the fruit emerges on the finish. Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha and Syrah. Best after 2008.

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