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2014 Black Slate La Morera Blancproduct-timed-pdf - Blanc, , - 91pts -WA | Garnatxa Blanca & Pedro Ximénez

Why We're Drinking It

Whites from the Priorat used to be considered "White Rhinos" till noted importers like Eric Solomon started to work with select Catalan producers to start bringing in the rare Grenache Blancs of Catalonia. The finest efforts offer loads of character and lots of flavor intensity.

In my professional opinion, a top-flight white needs five things: beguiling aromatics, mouthwatering freshness (zesty acidity), underlining minerality and minimal or no new oak in the aging process. Today's feature has all of these attributes in spades! I can't think of a better wine to shake up the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc Order. Do you enjoy Albarinos from Galicia from time to time? This has your name all over it!

The Black Slate La Morera name can be confusing since it's over 93% White Grenache (Garnatxa Blanca) and 7% Perdo Ximenez (The banner grape of the Sherry District.). The brand is the brainchild of U.S. Importer Eric Solomon and Jordi Vidal, proprietor and winemaker of the legendary Conreria d'Scala Dei winery. This property crafts one of the most iconic whites in all of the Spain from Garnatxa Blanca vines that are over 100 year old. His experience and knowledge of working with White Grenache plays off exceptional well this more value-driven rendition.

This aromatic wonder is a sensory overload and has staggering complexities that you rarely find at it's price point. The fruit is sourced from younger vines from the village of La Morera which butts up against the limestone rich Montsant range. This limestone is critical for the wine's mineral backbone and cleansing acidity. My initial tasting note drew a reference to a Loire Valley Sancerre's zestiness meets an expensive Northern Rhone White for its aromatic profile and palate fullness. Some clients may be familiar with Chateauneuf du Pape Blancs which often incorporates a high-percantage of Grenache Blanc. It's extremely difficult to find a White Chateauneuf at the Black Slate's price!

For those seeking a new diversion from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, this is it on some many levels from its "QPR" to its mouthful of sheer goodness. The aromatic nose and high-tone palate entry is contrasted nicely by a super bone-dry finish. This unique White Blend screams Spring and Summer Time! I guarantee that you will not be able to put this one down. This will work wonders with any meal that includes fresh fish, lobster, crab, shrimp and scallops. A Seafood Paella and today's feature will be true gastro-bliss! Viva Espana!

Tasting Notes

VARIETAL "High-pitched aromas of fresh citrus fruits, white peach, ginger and smoky White Blend minerals. Dry and nervy on the palate, offering vibrant Meyer lemon and APPELLATION pear flavors and a deeper note of honeydew. Finishes on a tangy note, with Priorat, Spain strong emphasis on the citrus fruits, leaving a spicy quality behind." ALCOHOL 14.00 SIZE 750ml BLEND White Blend

The Story to Know

The estate was founded in 1997 by Jordi Vidal and two friends. Their top site, Les Brugueres, and its centenary vines of Garnatxa Blanca produces one of the most delicious, single-varietal white wines in the DOQ. Jordi also makes an elegant version of Black Slate from vines in Escaladei as well as our only Black Slate white from vines he tends in the village of La Morera. Jordi organically farms several sites that vary in location, elevation and soil. While most are located near the winery there are a few vineyards in the neighboring villages of La Vilella Alta, and La Morera. Some sites are planted on steep slopes and terraces while the remainder are on lower-elevation alluvial soils. The vine age at Concreria d’Scala Dei ranges from 10 to well over 100 years old. While most of the vines are rooted in llicorella soils there are higher percentages of clay and limestone nearer the Montsant range. The estate controls 26.5 hectares planted with Garnatxa Negra, Carinyena, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Garnatxa Blanca and Pedro Ximénez.

Perfect Pairings

Pair with Seafood Paella!

Ratings

91 Points, Wine Advocate:

93 Insider Points

Reviews

"Dazzling day bright, light golden hue. Nose of pear, quince, mandarin orange and glanced flint. The palate suggests pear eau de vie, ripe crenshaw melon, asian pear with hints of fennel and sage. Mouthwatering acidity, subtle minerality can be find on the extremely bone dry finish. Combine top-shelf Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc (i.e. Sancerre) and a super expensive Rhone Hermitage Blanc and you have Black Slate Morera Blanco for a fraction of the price! Take your seafood preparations to new heights." - Neil Mechanic, Invino, 93 Insider Points

"Black Slate is a project from US importer Eric Solomon who works with different producers across Priorat to create a range of wines that show the character of the different Priorat villages at affordable prices. Each wine belongs to the winery that produce it and they are all village wines that carry the name of the village. I had the chance to taste from two bottles, one that was just opened and one that had been opened the day before and the differences were awesome. I'm talking about the 2014 Black Slate La Morera, which despite being called black is really white (!) and is produced in conjunction with Jordi Vidal of La Conrería de Scala Dei. The bottle that was opened and poured had a nice floral aroma and some waxy notes that were fresh and primary. But the one that had been opened for a day was darker in color and the nose was much more interesting with waxy aromas of dry apricots, and started to show some wild herbs, fennel and tarragon and the texture had also changed to be more focused while gaining in volume. I thoroughly advise that if you like funkier whites with more character you should decant a bottle one day in advance! This is mostly Garnacha Blanca with some 7% Pedro Ximenez at higher altitude as the village of La Morera is around 700 meters high and the soils are not only slate, but they also have some chalk (the influence form Montsant) that provide for a different kind of minerality, more sapid/salty. Great white from Priorat at amazing price. 8,000 bottles." - Wine Advocate, Luis Gutierrez, 91 Points