Perinet

One of the truly exciting projects out of Priorat, Perinet is an inspired winery which was first started in 2004. The owners of Alpha Omega, who craft world class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are investors in this project. Years ago the owners were impressed by the wines of Priorat that are largely Grenache based but have other varietals blended in. These are wines that are quite different to those from top producers Clos Erasmus and Clos Mogador — but the new Perinet wines truly rival anything out of this region. 

I found out about this project years ago when I visited Alpha Omega and met with their director of communications, Kelly Carter. Kelly had just made her voyage to Priorat, visiting the winery and trying the new wines. My ears perked up when I heard about the Alpha Omega investment as I have been enamored by the overall quality of the Alpha Omega wines for years. Kelly fawned over these new wines that I simply had to taste.

For those who have come to love the great wines of Jean Hoeflieger at Alpha Omega, you will be pleased to hear that he helps consult on these wines, made by the talented Antoni Sánchez-Ortiz. Antoni was born on December 4, 1978 in a small valley in Spain’s Pyrenees. He studied winemaking at the University of Tarragona (Spain) and the University Victor Segalen in Bordeaux (France). Toni possesses extensive technical and laboratory skills, further honed by his Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona and has been making wines in Priorat for the past twenty years.

I have been traveling quite a bit over the past month and haven’t had as much time to see my patients. Because I was running low on time with my travels, I brought these new releases to my office to taste. The quiet confines of a my evaluation room really gave me time to focus on the wines.The 2016 Perinet Red Wine Priorat (WWB, 94) is dense, monster of a wine that is largely Grenache, Syrah and Carignan with a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Rich and showing layers of dark and blue fruits, this is a stunning wine for the cellar. Even better was the 2016 Perinet ‘1194’ Priorat (WWB, 96) which totally floored me with its massive core of red and dark fruits alongside great poise. This true heavyhitter is nothing short of a magical effort that will evolve for decades to come. Learn more about this great new winery at https://www.perinetwinery.com. Here are the stunning new wines by Perinet. 

2016 Perinet ‘Merit’ Priorat- The ‘Merit’ is a blend of mostly Merlot and Syrah, with smaller portions Garnatxa and Carinyena. The beautiful earthy and red fruit aromatics entice with lighter flinty undertones that all take place in the glass. The palate has good freshness with medium to full-bodied kirsch, underbrush and bulls blood flavors with citrus rind accents. Complex and downright delicious in its youth, the ‘Merit’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2030- 92

2016 Perinet Red Wine Priorat- The 2016 Perinet Red Wine is a stunning blend of Garnatxa (33%), Syrah (25%), and Carinyena (25%), with 16% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deeply perfumed once in the glass, the Perinet shows red rose water with shades of anise, black licorice and copious red fruits with wet stone accents that all meld together in the glass. The palate is dense and polished, showing off its silky mouthfeel and voluptuous texture. Deep Hoisin sauce with rich red and black fruits dance with minerals and damp earthy undertones. Every bit stunning in its youth, the 2016 Perinet Red Wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2020-2035- 94

2016 Perinet ‘1194’ Priorat- A blend of primarily Garnatxa, with a small part Carignan, the ‘1194’ is a stunning new wine that truly showcases this region in an extravagant style. Black fruits and spicy undertones dominate the nose with the damp stone terroir combining marvelously in the glass. Fleshy, with a dense and polished texture, the wine shows moderate tannins that line a deep core of red and dark fruits with sagebrush, milk chocolate and white pepper undertones on the palate. Massive, with serious poise and richness, the ‘1194’ is a tour de force in this region that is unlike any other I have sampled. Drink 2022-2040- 96