Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Smoke, leaf litter, black cherry, very fine, misted tannins. Dry and stately. Lots of structure and not so much fruit power as some other vintages. Lovely expressive nose though – a really delicate example.

Vinous (94)

The 2000 Rouge is an absolute delight. Gently mellowed by the passage of time, the 2000 offers striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Like all of these wines, the 2000 has aged while retaining a good bit of tannic bite, but here all the elements are very nicely balanced. Dried cherry, spice, tobacco, leather and earthiness suggest a wine that is mature, but then the acids kick in. There is a good bit of life ahead here.

Wine Advocate (93)

A singular blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Tannat, 4% Melot, 4% Pinot Noir, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Syrah and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 IGP Saint Guilhem le Desert reveals a perfumed, complex bouquet of dark wild berries, violet, spices and mulberries mingled with carnal notes. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and balanced, it has a fleshy core of fruit framed by powdery tannins that segue into a long, penetrating and slightly wild finish. This is a moderately weighted, lively rendition of this iconic estate from the Languedoc.

The exquisite Raventós i Blanc Mas del Serral 2009, a sparkling wine of exceptional complexity and grace, hails from Catalonia, Spain. Crafted by the renowned Raventós i Blanc, a winemaking dynasty dating back to 1497, this wine exemplifies perfection with three years of lees ageing and a further six years of bottle ageing. Expertly sculpted from a blend of Xarel·lo and Parellada grapes delicately harvested from the prized Mas del Serral vineyard, it oscillates between freshness and maturity.

Perfect acidity and fine bubbles introduce an amalgamation of bright citrus notes balanced with aged honey undertones, culminating in a lingering, nuanced finish. A glorious testament to the terroir, the Raventós i Blanc Mas del Serral 2009 effectively captures the minerality of the limestone-rich soils of the 12-hectare estate. Unquestionably, it stands among the premier Catalan sparkling wines.

Vinous (92)

(50% carinena, 48% garnacha and 2% merlot) Inky violet. Vibrant cherry, cassis and violet aromas are deepened by smoky bacon, mocha and toasty oak. Tightly wound, with firmly structured dark berry flavors and no flab. Picks up a spicy quality on the impressively long, juicy finish, which offers an intriguing, rooty cola flavor.

Wine Advocate (95)

I had two vintages of the old-vine cuvée to taste side by side, starting with the 2014 Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles. Made of 55% Cariñena and 45% Garnacha from old vines on slopes on slate llicorella soils, the fermentation and aging are the same as for the centenary Carignan: fermentation in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and an élevage of 16 months in new French barriques. It has moderate alcohol and high acidity. It has already started developing some tertiary notes and shows some graphite and wet slate notes. The palate shows great balance, with concentration and freshness—what you're aiming for in a wine like this where pure power might be too much. 5,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2016.

Vinous (95)

Vivid ruby-red. Energetic, mineral-accented red/dark berry, incense and floral pastille scents show excellent delineation and pick up a suggestion of licorice with air. Broad and fleshy on entry, then tighter on the midpalate, offering pliant black raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Finishes very long and sweet, with slow-building tannins, a touch of smokiness and wonderful tension. (raised in a combination of clay amphoras and glass demi-johns)

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2021 Martinet Bru was also bottled and ready for tasting. 2021 is a year of very good potential in Priorat. There is great tension here, and the wine has freshness, complexity and depth, something special, but it was not easy, as they got a lot of rain in September. It's elegant and balanced, the tannins are very fine and the wine feels very relaxed (quite remarkable, as it was recently bottled). It has to be one of the finest vintages of Martinet Bru. I find great purity here. Sara Pérez told me the 2021s seem to dance... There are some 56,000 bottles. This is bottled over a period of time, and they started in July 2022.

Wine Advocate (96)

I love the 2015 Clos Martinet, which I find complex and elegant while keeping the Priorat rustic character found in the best vintages, like 2000. It's balanced, and the palate feels ethereal for the concentration it has. The tannins are abundant but very fine-grained, and there is a sense of harmony that is captivating. A great Clos Martinet. I had the chance to drink the 2000 a few days before I tasted this, and it remains one of the best years they have produced. 2015 is also among the best years. The favorites for Sara Pérez are 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017. 12,000 bottles were filled in April 2017.

Wine Advocate (96)

The flagship 2018 Clos Martinet is the wine that started it all and is still a blend of Garnacha (Tinta and Peluda), Syrah, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell as it was since the beginning but now with a restrained 13.5% alcohol and higher acidity. Clos Martinet is a single five-hectare terraced vineyard planted with clonal material in 1986 on decomposed llicorella slate, iron and big rocks in the soil. The varieties are co-fermented depending on the date picked—at three different ripening times—in two concrete vats and 200-liter oak vats with indigenous yeast and whole clusters. The beginning and end of the élevage was in concrete, and in between they used 2,000- and 4,100-liter oak vats and some 20% in glass demijohn and amphorae. The wine is subtle and a bit shy, insinuating rather than in your face. There is a lot less ripeness than in the past. It's medium-bodied and fluid, fresh and balanced. This is a very elegant Clos Martinet. 11,070 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2020.

Wine Advocate (95)

Their flagship 2019 Clos Martinet, one of the wines produced in the first vintage of the new Priorat in 1989 by the father of Sara Pérez, is still a blend of Garnacha (Tinta and Peluda), Syrah, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell. The nose is dark despite the lowish alcohol (13.5%) and has an earthy touch, with hints of fountain pen ink and abundant grainy tannins. 14,000 bottles produced.

Wine Advocate (98)

The nose of the 2021 Clos Martinet is amazing, very different, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. I wondered why, and there was an explanation. In 2021, it had a shorter vinification, and part was fermented with carbonic maceration and matured mostly in concrete (like in 2009, when it was 100% in concrete, a one-off) and the rest in a 2,000-liter oak foudre. There's a lot of Garnacha (65%) and the vineyard is quite warm, so they had to find a way to equalize it down. It has 13.5% alcohol and a vibrant palate that is fine-boned and elegant, full of energy and an electric sensation of lightness. It's tasty and makes you salivate, with an almost salty touch. This is an amazing vintage for Clos Martinet. 16,696 bottles, 216 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2023.

Crafted from the stunning terrains of Veneto, Italy, the Masi Amarone Valpolicella Classico Costasera 2018 is a beautifully harmonious testament to the mastery of Masi, a globally-celebrated wine producer. Its alluring sophistication springs from the unique combination of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grape varietals, harvested from hillside vineyards reflecting the evening sun - Costasera.

The grapes undergo meticulous Appassimento, an ancient vinification method, where they are semi-dried before undergoing a long fermentation period. This exceptional wine presents an intense ruby red hue, boasting a bouquet of ripe cherries, and nuances of spicy plum. On the palate, it demonstrates finely balanced tannins, with a delectable, persistent finish.

As an Amarone, it is an apt representation of the profound complexity and maturity that Masi consistently delivers. Once tasted, the Masi Amarone Valpolicella Classico Costasera 2018 lingers in the memory, making it a perfect accompaniment to red meats, game, and mature cheeses.