martes 28 de septiembre de 2004 - 21:05 viernes 25 de junio de 2010 - 15:04

Predictions

22 respuestas

suiko
en respuesta a WaltZalenski 30/09/04 11:48

Re: Predictions

Surely this is logical, given that the terrain is very similar? And the Montsant wines I’ve tried have a strong sense of terroir, like those of Priorat (so I’ve heard, too expensive for me I’m afraid). Who’s to say that Montsant, having won over a large chunk of the €8-15 market (which is the one that really counts), won’t be more famous than Priorat in a few years?

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#10

JoanF
en respuesta a WaltZalenski 30/09/04 22:30

Re: Predictions

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Hello, about Penedès... I’m biased about the international view from Japan. Until today they seem to know Rioja, and perhaps Ribera del Duero (my efforts promoting in Japan, the Priorat, Penedès, Montsant, Conca de Barberà, et... will do some effect in the future :^D).

About the Montsant-Priorat likeliness... I have to say I cannot agree at all even after the opinions of Barbier and other respectable wine makers (who have some biz in Montsant as well). For me the difference of the soil is clear (the Priorat was defined as the estate own by the Scala Dei’s Prior in the middle age, and was the ’black’ area, so, the area with ’licorella’ mineral soil... ), and simply the soil is different from Montsant.

Of course, the Prirat wines are not all so good (depending on wine makers), but they have the ’licorella’ in 95% (my guess). Montsant has basically no ’licorella’, but a 5% may have (after all they are so close). Actually, the licorella states extend up to the ’Grans Muralles’ vineyard.... (of course, not continuosly)....

And in blind tastes I participated, it was not so difficut to know which were Priorat and which one Montsant, perhaps only two difficult cases, a ’medium’ Priorat and a so good ’Montsant’... but that’s all in 16 bottles...

Regards.

Joan

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#11

WaltZalenski
en respuesta a WaltZalenski 01/10/04 22:53

Re: Predictions

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I agree. The terrain is different.

I’m not saying that its claim is justified, but I do think that Montsant is trying to associate itself with Priorat in the marketplace.

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#12

suiko
en respuesta a WaltZalenski 02/10/04 12:41

Re: Predictions

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Depends on the marketplace, I suppose (and the influence of RP?) Obviously the US market is very diffrent from the German or British one.

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#13

GerryDawes
en respuesta a WaltZalenski 03/10/04 22:00

Re: Predictions

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Joan is right, there is a big difference. My friend Christopher Canaan has plenty of Montsant to sell, but to me this will always be the defining difference between Priorat and Montsant: the predominance of licorella in Priorat. As to Priorat surpassing Rioja, I suppose if you think the Rhone Valley has surpassed Bordeaux and Burgundy, you could say that, but Parker has never been to Spain in his wine writing career and he simply does not know the physcial limitations of producing wine in Priorat. And, say what you will, there are more bottles of 90+ point wines ageing on any given day in La Rioja than in the rest of Spain put together. In fact, there is more aging in the Barrio de la Estacion on a given day, than in the rest of Spain. And, despite the hype, the Ribera del Duero still has to live up to its early billing.