Wine Article
2011 Clos Mogador Priorat
Last edited on 5/10/2014 by jrglm
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René Barbier is one of a handful of winemakers who helped revive Spain's Priorat as one of the founding members of what came to be called the "Gratallops group." He and others, including Alvaro Palacios and Carles Pastrana, began restoring eight vineyard sites high in the Siurana Valley in the 1980s, replanting primarily Garnacha and Cariñena in the poor slate-rich soils. The wines that resulted have become some of the most sought after from Spain. Barbier's Clos Mogador is earthier, stonier than the others, with the blend including Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in addition to the aforementioned varietals. And while other wineries in the region often include Syrah in their blends, Barbier's contains the most, perhaps as a nod to his roots in the southern Rhône. Intense and age worthy, it's amazing you can still buy a wine from this star of Priorat for such a reasonable price when compared to high profile wines from other great wine regions such as Bordeaux or the Napa Valley.
From Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - Clos Mogador and the Barbier family should require no introduction to any Priorat aficionado, as they are the pioneers and catalysts of modern day Priorat. To understand low yields (and high prices) it should be enough to say that from their 40 hectares of vineyards they produce 45,000 bottles of wine per year. The wines are not cheap, but for the quality they offer they represent good value and are all highly recommended
Tasting note - The 2011 Clos Mogador feels ripe, serious and young. Rene Barbier likes to pick ripe grapes but without any raisins making it into the vats. The wine is a blend of the different grapes in his Clos Mogador vineyard (it’s just one of a handful of wines officially awarded the single-vineyard label by the Catalan wine institutions): Garnacha, Carinena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. But the wine speaks more of the place than the grapes, with notes of slate, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, black cherries and a supple palate, full-bodied, with pungent flavors, round, velvety tannins and a long aftertaste. This is a superb effort for such a warm vintage, the warmest and driest in Priorat since 2003, and great value for the quality. 30,000 bottles are produced of this prodigious, powerful but balanced Priorat. Drink 2015-2025
Amazing Grapes Wine Store
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
May 8, 2014
From Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - Clos Mogador and the Barbier family should require no introduction to any Priorat aficionado, as they are the pioneers and catalysts of modern day Priorat. To understand low yields (and high prices) it should be enough to say that from their 40 hectares of vineyards they produce 45,000 bottles of wine per year. The wines are not cheap, but for the quality they offer they represent good value and are all highly recommended
Tasting note - The 2011 Clos Mogador feels ripe, serious and young. Rene Barbier likes to pick ripe grapes but without any raisins making it into the vats. The wine is a blend of the different grapes in his Clos Mogador vineyard (it’s just one of a handful of wines officially awarded the single-vineyard label by the Catalan wine institutions): Garnacha, Carinena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. But the wine speaks more of the place than the grapes, with notes of slate, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, black cherries and a supple palate, full-bodied, with pungent flavors, round, velvety tannins and a long aftertaste. This is a superb effort for such a warm vintage, the warmest and driest in Priorat since 2003, and great value for the quality. 30,000 bottles are produced of this prodigious, powerful but balanced Priorat. Drink 2015-2025
Amazing Grapes Wine Store
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
May 8, 2014