2007 Riu Trio Infernal, Combier-Fischer-Gerin, Priorat

‘Riu’is the junior wine from the collaboration between these two great Rhône growers and flying Dutchman Peter Fischer. Riu, in the unlikely event that the word is unfamiliar to you, means stream in Catalan, its vines planted in a canyon near Torroja , a little lower down from the older vines which go into the top Trio wines. The word can also mean ‘smile’, therefore is a play on words on the corporate logo, which was once so evident on the labels but which, thankfully, is now more discretely displayed on the corks and capsules.

The blend here is 98% Grenache and 2% Syrah...good to see a little Syrah has been slipped in by the northern Rhône boys! The wine is intended to be softer, rounder and more approachable than its siblings; a vin de bistrot as Jean Michel would have it. It is both rich and charming; who could ask for more?
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)