Today we venture across the Atlantic to DOCa Priorat, which is located in Catalonia, not too far from Barcelona. For years I have been somewhat infatuated by this region and have visited several years back. The terroir from this mountainous region is just insanely cool. The region produces some of the great wines of the world including Clos Erasmus and Clos Mogador. If you have never tried any of the great wines from Priorat, you are in for a serious treat.
Buil & Gine mainly makes wines from the DOCa Priorat, but also makes wines from the DO Montsant, DO Rueda and DO Toro regions. The winery was founded in the winter of 1996 and in the spring of 1998, they introduced their first wine, Giné Giné 1997. The wine was named after the founder’s grandfather who had always been a wine grower and active member of the wine industry in Priorat. Their Priorat winery even has a four star hotel and restaurant for luxurious visits.
One of their great new releases in their 2018 Buil & Gine ‘Joan Gine’ Blanc (WWB, 92) has an awesome range of flavors and shows great freshness. This winer makes an outstanding Rose and their 2019 Buil & Gine ‘Gine Rosat’ Priorat (WWB, 91) has incredible freshness and is beautifully textured with bright red fruits and citrus rind accents. Learn more about this fantastic w9nery at http://www.builgine.com Here are the great new releases by Buil & Gine.
2017 Buil & Gine ‘Gine Gine’ Priorat- An equal blend of old vine Grenache and Carignan, the 2017 ‘Gine Gine’ opens with very pretty red rose petals aromatics and shades of lavender that combine with the ripe red fruits and citrus rind tones that are woven together in the glass. The palate is soft, round and elegant, showing off a silky mouthfeel. Medium-bodied sour kirsch, cran-orange and sweet pipe tobacco flavors combine with the bright sense of minerality and silky mouthfeel. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2018 Buil & Gine ‘Gine Rosat’ Rose- The ‘Gine Rosat’ Rose is a thrilling new wine from this great Priorat estate. The freshness and wonderful sense of minerality entices, as its silky texture and soft mouthfeel combines with the delicate red fruit, orange rind and wet stone flavors. I love the combination of viscosity and tension here. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2018 Buil & Gine ‘Joan Gine’ Priorat Blanco- The 2018 ‘Joan Gine’ Blanco is a seriously good blend of 50% White Garnacha, 25% Macabeo, 20% Viognier and 5% Pedro Ximenez and Muscat. Showing better at a warmer temperature, the silky texture entices as bright pear and kiwi flavors collide with shades of lemon blossom and nutmeg on this complex palate. Fantastic now, this will evolve well for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2014 Buil & Gine ‘Joan Gine’ Priorat- The 2014 ‘Joan Gine’ Priorat is a gorgeous offering by Buil & Gine. The wine is an impressive blend of 45% Red Garnacha, 40% Cariñena and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that was aged in 300L American and French oak barrels for 12 months before bottling. The freshness and bright red fruits really impress, as a light dusting of salinity collides with shades of black tea and exotic spices on the palate. With wonderful viscosity and acidity, the 2014 ‘Joan Gine’ will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2033- 93