Beth Willard, Diana Rollan and David Williams tasted 97 wines, with 9 Outstanding and 43 Highly recommended.
Priorat red wines panel tasting scores
97 wines tasted
Exceptional 0
Outstanding 9
Highly recommended 43
Recommended 39
Commended 6
Fair 0
Poor 0
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their latest-release Priorat reds, including single varietal or blended wines
A few years ago, I found myself with a free afternoon in the Priorat region of Catalonia in northeast Spain and set off on the back roads to lose myself (and all sense of direction) in its rugged hills. Through the rolled-down windows, the breeze carried the wonderful scents of wild flowers and sotobosque (garrigue) undergrowth and, while the summer sun was harsh, at times blinding, it gradually gave way to the softer hues of a Mediterranean evening: glowing, shimmering, a final warm embrace before nightfall.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores from the Priorat red wines panel tasting
This Decanter tasting of Priorat wines brought to mind that moment in time and took the judging panel on a journey through the region’s varied landscapes, its bright and bold styles as well as its more subtle nuances and its unique Catalan character.
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Priorat reds panel tasting scores
The wines below all scored 92 points or above
{}
{"wineId":"66659","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66660","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66661","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66662","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66663","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66664","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66665","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66666","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66667","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66668","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63560","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66671","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66672","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66670","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66674","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66675","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66676","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66677","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66678","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66669","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66673","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66680","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66681","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66687","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66679","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66684","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66683","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66682","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66685","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"66686","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Beth Willard is involved in sourcing wines for both the on- and off-trade in the UK, with a particular focus on Spain and Eastern Europe. Formerly buying manager at Direct Wines, she is a DWWA joint Regional Chair for Spain, and a member of Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.
Diana Rollan is group head of beverage for D&D London restaurants group. A DWWA judge for Spain, she formerly managed training and wine buying at Hakkasan Group as its UK head of wine.
David Williams is a regular contributor to Decanter on all things Spanish. He is also wine correspondent for The Observer, deputy editor of The World of Fine Wine, and a columnist for trade magazine The Wine Merchant.
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