I’m hooked on the big, beautiful red wines of Spain’s Priorat. And a recent trip to Spainis just prolonging the affair. Consequently, my first Top Pick for the month is Scala Dei’s 2004 Cartoixa Priorat – this venerable estate’s top rated wine. The 2004 Cartoixa Priorat is a powerful, polished wine that positively sings from the glass. It offers an eye catching purple robe and a stunning bouquet that flirts with the senses before seducing the nose. A heady mélange of black currant, rose petal, black cherry, hot fudge and sweet vanilla savory scents and flavors work their magic. If you have never had one of Priorat’s iconic wines, it’s about time you treated yourself. Try Scala Dei’s Cartoixa, but remember it only takes one time to get hooked. My Second Top Pick belongs to an old friend and one of the most consistently made wines I have encountered over the years – Gilles Noblet’s Domaine de la Collonge Pouilly-Fuissé. Noblet’s 2011 Pouilly-Fuissé is another unequivocal success. It received unanimous support from our tasting panels and is positively delightful. And it will get even better with a few additional months of bottle age. A votre santé!
About Don Lahey
Don Lahey's career in the wine industry spans over 30 years as an importer, author, consultant, and educator. He leads the tasting panel that selects our wines each month.
