Cartoixa Reserva 2005 Scala Dei Priorat

You can hardly find Priorat, or Priorato in Spanish, on a map, it's so small. This tiny Catalonian wine region covers just 4,151 acres - Rioja, in comparison, is over 150,000 acres in size - but Priorat's impact on the world of wine is large. Named after the local monastery, or priory, that began producing wine in the 12th century, Monks of the Scala Dei ("Ladder of God") monastery planted the hillsides around the priory with wine grapes. The vineyards flourished, thanks to the area's fertile volcanic soil and dry summer climate, until phylloxera's arrival in the late 1800s. Priorat's unusual climate also leaves its mark on the region's wine grapes. Summers are typically hot and dry, but winters can be cold and windy. Priorat is quite hilly, so each vineyard seems to have its own microclimate. In some areas, the hills shelter the vines, while in others, winds from warmer areas can blow onto the vines. This wine, a blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon has been aged in both French and American oak. A wonderful full bodied wine, with balanced tannins, and elegance and structure.