Spain: Catalonia, Including Priorat
2019 GOLD: 1 SILVER: 3 BRONZE: 3 COMMENDED: 2
2018 GOLD: 4 SILVER: 5 BRONZE: 0 COMMENDED: 4
This is rarely a section of the Sommelier Wine Awards dripping in medals. The most medals we’ve ever had here is 14, which isn’t that many given how much wine comes out of Spain’s north-east corner. Nor does it typically fill up many spaces on the Gold List. Our record was four, last year, and we were nowhere near that this year.
It’s a bit odd, not least because the feedback from the first-round tasters was a lot more positive than what we ended up with from the second round of judging. The problem, perhaps, was the ‘readiness to drink’ (or not) of the Priorats. The region’s star reds didn’t get past Bronze, with our only Gold going to a chunky Empordan old-vine Carignan/Cab.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘These were super-exciting. What’s distinctive here is that despite being a relatively hot region, so the wines have intense fruit, they also have a lovely freshness. That balance is their USP. A few wines here would really offer a point of difference to a wine list.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader
‘These were beautiful wines, and there was good variation, too, with a variety of different styles. It’s an area that’s improving, and developing a lot. Some of the wines were outstanding, with a lot of potential to age, which is a good sign.’ Beatrice Bessi, 67 Pall Mall
‘This was a fantastic flight. You’d look for full-bodied but well-integrated, oak-aged styles of wine from places like Priorat, and some excellent value from Penedès, and we were finding them here.’ Charlie Carter, Ten Green Bottles