1978 Portugal

The top wine at this delightful Bodega, Clos Monlleó, is a 50/50 blend of 80 year-old Carinena and 30 year-old Garnacha, aged for 18 months in new Allier oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. This 99 is intriguing as smoky, gamey notes have started to emerge to complement the silky bedrock of dark dense fruit.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer


From an historic Priorat family which can trace its lineage back to before 1700, Sangenís I Vaqué was founded in 1978 by Pere Sangenís and Conxita Vaqué. The vineyards are located in Porrera, famous for its llicorella (schist and slate) terraces and vines, all of which are venerable, and divided between Garnacha and Cariñena. Minimal intervention in the winery is the philosophy here and the wines are aged in a combination of French (85%) and American (15%) oak for 12months. They are then bottled unfined and unfiltered and can, as a result, be seen as amongst the purest and most traditional, in all its best senses, from this magical denominación.

This hedonistic single-vineyard wine is delicately perfumed with a silky, sweet tannic structure, classic strawberry and cream flavours, with delightful finesse and balance.