Clos Mogador Priorat 2018

98 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Robert Parker once said of Clos Mogador, “the wines are a stunning example of what Spain can produce but so rarely does”. This seems more true now adays, because compared with the large numbers of ambitious “alto espreccion” Spanish wines that have come on stream these last few years, Mogador wines don’t just have the concentration and complexity those wines do, but also the energy, vitality and soul.

The winery and production is run by the uber-talented Priorat pioneer, René Barbier. He nursed back to life abandoned old vineyards planted on steep schist hillsides, where the ancient Grenache and Carignan vines sent roots almost thirty yards down in search of water and nutrients. Annually, they yield less than 10 hectolitres per hectare of intense, concentrated and super complex juice.

But as anyone who has ever had the wine can attest… the juice that goes into bottle is truly special.