2007 Els Pics Bodegas Mas Alta Priorat

This is a low-cost, relatively, Priorat @ $23 from CH Wine Co. It's not a Mogador, but it's reminiscent of it. This one is Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon: "Founded in 1999, Bodegas Mas Alta has the renowned Michel Tardieu from the Rhone and noted French enologist Philippe Cambie consulting for a partnership of Belgian owners. Els Pics is a blend 60% Grenache, 30% Carignan (aka Mazuelo in Spain), and 5% Cabernet from young vines grown at an elevation of 50-350 meters. 55% of the fruit is grown in the llicorella soils of the terraced slopes and the balance from the clay soils of the valley floor. Their approach to vinification is very gentle, this cuvee was aged for 12 months in Allier oak." (The numbers add to 95% so I think 65% grenache)

You have the spicy blackberry/strawberry that marks grenache for me, the marked nutiness that I can't help thinking is like hazelnut,, the old dominant crop of this area of Spain!, and also some interesting melon overtones. Very silky on the palate tho with plenty of acid on finish, which is pleasant, moderately long and warm. Tannins are soft. I'm going to say peak drinking will be 2011-2016. This is a 90+ point, maybe 91 point wine that's a reasonable substitute for the next pricepoint wines like Les Terraces (Palacios) at $40-45 or twice as much. With air added complexity of berries and mocha, somehow calling to mind cabernet and the extra complexity on nose is carignan--would be similar to what Malbec or cab franc does in bordeaux I think.