2009 Mas Alta Proprietary Priorat Blend "La Basseta"

Photograph is from our trip to Priorat in the summer of 2007 when the "Mas Romani" winery, now Mas Alta was being finished.

Bodegas Mas Alta is a joint project with renowned Rhone negociant and winemaker Michel Tardieu and noted French enologist Philippe Cambie and is located in the middle of D.O. Priorat, at Vilella Alta. The estate vineyards are high density plantings at about 1050 feet above sea level, in front of Serra del Montsant, a mountain range that reaches 3300 feet. Very steep and abrupt, the altitude, inclination, and slopes make a decisive influence on grape’s maturity.

The selection criteria for producing La Basseta is based on successfully expressing the terroir with a sensation of finesse and indulgence. Through-out the process of producing La Basseta, Mas Alta aims to obtain a sensitive and complex wine. The intensity of the fruit blended with a long and silky finish make for a complex yet feminine feel.

The La Basseta cuvee is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Carignan, and 20% Syrah all from steep slopes and aged for 16 months in 60% new French oak. The Carignan portion comes from vines ranging in age from 40-100 years. The 2009 La Basseta is purple black in color with a brooding bouquet of liquid minerals, licorice, tapenade, a hint of balsamic, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it reveals greater richness than the 2008 with plush fruit, succulent flavors, and enough ripe tannin to evolve for 4-6 years. It will be at its best from 2015 to 2029. - 95 points, Wine Advocate