Tasting a grape from its place of origin brings a sense of enormity and significance that cannot be replicated. When I enjoy wine, I see myself not only as someone that appreciates great flavor, but as an actual adventurer and witness to the history and culture of the broader world. The celebration of what makes any grape or style unique is what continuously pulls me back into the passion and forms the deep reverance I have for classic regions.
And…..what if I told you we have 4 vintages of such an experience that all scored 97+ points?
Which brings me to our offer today! On sale now is simply some of the best garnacha that Spain has ever made. Coming straight from the heartland of garnacha’s origins are the wines of Espectacle del Montsant. These wines come from Rene Barbier and have revitalized the notion of high quality potential that the garnacha grape can achieve. The vineyards in the Sierras of Montsant are of very high altitude (upwards of 2300 feet above sea level), comprised of diverse soils including limestone, clay, granite, and slate. What truly makes the vine material special though is that its some of the most ancient in all of Spain, with much of it being 100 years old or more.
Barbier describes himself on the winery’s website as “obsessed by the expression ‘terroir’.” He lives and breathes the vineyard, and is nourished by its biodiverse flora of fruit trees, olives, and herbs. His obsession was rewarded when the flagship Mogador wine was the first Catalonian wine to achieve “Vi de Finca” status, certifying it as a single-vineyard estate-bottled wine from a notable site with at least five years of production.
These are rich and textural red wines. The broad fruit potential of the garnacha is expressed here in combination with fresh acidity maintained from high altitude growing conditions and steep slopes. The Mediterranean climate is realized so intimately in the final product, with the all the warmth of the Spanish sun creating silky tannins and opulent structure. What’s striking is that the wines never feel top heavy in spite of their ripeness and higher alcohol; but rather show obvious elegance in the glance with very lifted aromas of flowers and delicate spice.
With our discount applied, these are practically the lowest prices you can find anywhere for these wines. Discount available only through this coming Wednesday so act fast!
Buy any 3-5 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy any 6+ bottles for a 10% discount
Discounts will be applied after orders are received.
Offer ends on Wednesday March 12th at 9AM PST
Available Vintages of Espectacle:
Espectacle del Montsant, Montsant 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.”
Espectacle del Montsant, Montsant 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 99 points “It’s always an exciting moment tasting a new vintage of the wine from one of the most beautiful vineyards in Montsant, and the 2019 Espectacle del Montsant didn’t disappoint. It’s always Mediterranean, heady and ripe, decadent and hedonistic. 2019 was a warm and quite classical vintage in the zone, with good ripeness (the wine’s label lists 15.5% alcohol), and the wine is hedonistic, nuanced and complex, with very good acidity, which is one of the characteristics that makes this vintage so complete. Despite everything, the wine is medium to full-bodied and comes through as perfumed and ethereal. They do long macerations and long aging in foudre. 2019 is a very serious vintage for this wine; it’s a little closed and needs time in the glass, and it’s tight and seamless, a little austere for what this wine usually is. This is truly spectacular.”
Espectacle del Montsant, Montsant 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2020 Espectacle del Montsant has 15% alcohol, lower than the two previous vintages despite being a warmer year, and it has power and concentration (from the weather and the low yields from mildew), reaching a good concentration with freshness, which is the key to having a balanced 2020. The wine is floral, and the profile of fruit is more primary. It also has abundant, fine-grained tannins that are going to require some more time in bottle. Espectacle always has the floral expression and the elegance of this unique vineyard in Montsant. Starting in 2022, Christian Barbier, who is leading the regenerative viticulture in the Priorat/Montsant zone, will be in charge of the viticulture here.”
Espectacle del Montsant, Montsant 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 29 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2021 Espectacle del Montsant has a bright ruby color and a very perfumed and elegant nose with no signs of excess ripeness, with 14.5% alcohol. As 2021 was a much cooler year, the wine is more elegant than ever (following the cooler years like 2014), textured and with very fine tannins. It has an intoxicating nose of red fruit and blood orange, violets and a spicy twist with pungent flavors and a finish that is dominated by violet pastille and is pungent, intense, clean and very long. It’s multi-layered, precise, nuanced and ever-changing in the glass. It has to be one of the most elegant and finest vintages of Espectacle, with the natural freshness from the year. Bravo! There are some 7,500 bottles of this elixir.”