65% Garnacha Tinta, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Syrah from Priorat, Catalonia, Spain.
SRP of $25 and available for as low as $13.
From the bottle:
"Scale Dei is a remarkable winery, founded in the 12th century by Carthusian monks. Within the Carthusian order, the Prior was a key spiritual reference and the leader of the community. This wine is a tribute to the figure of the Prior at the Scala Dei Monastery. Aged for nine months in American & French oak, Scala Dei Prior is an intense and complex wine, full of black fruit aromas.
To preserve the unique character of Scala Dei and its surrounding terroir, this wine has been made using the most natural methods. Decanting is recommended.
14.5% Alcohol"
Scala Dei is Latin for "Ladder of God" and as you read on the label, it goes all the way back to the founding of the winery in the 12th century by monks. Priorat, an isolated area within Spain, is one of the smallest wine regions in the country. Nutritionally poor, black slate soils contribute to very low yields, as little as one pound per vine, but as we've discussed before in the vineyard low yields generally mean very concentrated, flavorful fruit -- perfect for making wine.
The 2003 Scala Dei Priorat Prior begins with nice, strong aromas of dark, ripe fruit (plum and jammy blackberry predominantly) plus a little vanilla and pepper. Tasting this big and savory wine reveals loads of rich, concentrated fruit along with strong tannins, lots of dried herbs and a dense and delicious mouthfeel. It ends with excellent peppery spice and wonderful mineral notes. This one lingers in the mouth for minutes, not seconds. Heavenly!
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 8.3
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