La Cartuja is a nod to the Carthusian monks first planted vineyards in Priorat in the 12th Century. In the vineyards, llicorella, a form of slate that is thin, shiny, and black, can be found on the surface of Priorat growing sites. Llicorella reflects the sun and its heat back onto the grapes from the earth. This heat helps the grapes ripen in Priorat’s continental climate. La Cartuja uses French oak, relatively common in Priorat but a departure from Spanish winemakers’ traditional preference for American oak. I pulled this wine from our cellar after three years. While it still has plenty of power, it is just starting to show the dried fruit that comes with bottle aging. Along with fresh and dried black fruit, the wine has vanilla, rough leather, and a good smattering of minerality. For under $20, this wine is still available on the market along with a number of older (and younger) vintages to choose from based on your personal preference.
Bodegas La Cartuja, Priorat (Catalonia, Spain) 2018
By Vince Simmon