Alcohol: 15%
Grape(s): 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah
Localization: Priorat, Spain
Tasting Notes: Opaque dark ruby color. Smoky kirsch notes, savory spices, anise. Big white pepper spiced Grenache dominates the palate. Lush black cherry, kirsch fruit, pepper, fine-grained tannins continue onto a very long finish.
93 points Jeb Dunnuck: The Black Slate La Vilella Alta (50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) is a big, rich, powerful wine offering lots of blue and red fruits, spring flowers, lavender, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful purity, a solid spine of acidity, ripe tannins, and a beautiful finish, it's another singular wine with brilliant character.
Notes: The inspiration for the Black Slate Project is a Burgundian concept of village nomenclature, applied to the Priorat. One region, nine historic villages, each with its distinct character, but all unmistakably Priorat. Sun-scorched vines cling to breathtakingly steep hillsides with their roots deeply plunged in the llicorella soils of this pristine, ancient region.
The Domain: Based in the traditional village of Vilella Alta, Bodegas Mas Alta is the culmination of five Belgian partners' common desire to produce a great wine. This dream is now taking shape thanks to the advice of Michel Tardieu and Philippe Cambie and as the result of the work done by a passionate team every day.
Choice of the vineyard is crucial for the production of highly expressive wines that combine character and elegance. We have planted some 35 hectares of vines since 1999 on land classified as being part of the DOQ Priorat, carefully selecting the plots in so doing. In fact, most of our vineyard is planted at altitude, on the slate. Depending on the plot's characteristics, we either plant varieties traditional to this region – carignan and grenache – or varieties such as cabernet sauvignon or shiraz. These young vines, whose potential quality is already very promising, represent the future of Bodegas Mas Alta: We also purchase grapes from local winegrowers, often from the village, to make our wines. These winegrowers are the custodians of Priorat's traditional heritage.
In fact, the essence of our vintages – old vines – comes from these winegrowers. Vines aged 50 years and more naturally produce fewer grapes, the first step towards quality wine...
Their deep, well-established roots thus enable them to achieve full maturity, consistency, less dependence on climatic conditions. It is without question the ultimate, pure expression of the terroir.
