Black Slate La Vilella Alta 2011 92 Points $19.99

Black Slate La Vilella Alta 2011 – $19.99 – Spanish Table

The Black Slate La Vilella Alta 2011 is a spectacular red wine from the Priorat wine region of Spain. Black Slate La Vilella Alta 2011 is a blend of Garnacha 60%, Carignan 35%, and Cabernet Sauvignon 5%. The wine is made at Bodegas Mas Alta. It is a winery that we had the opportunity to visit this October on a press trip sponsored by the Digital Wine Communication Conference. Bodegas Mas Alta is a relatively new winery and is very impressive, with state-of-the-art winemaking equipment and techniques. See below a slide video that I put together from photos I’d captured on our visit. The very short movie will give you an idea of why the Black Slate La Vilella Alta 2011 is such a fantastic wine.

What sets Black Slate La Vilella Alta 2011 apart from the mainstream is its vast complexity. It is an enticing wine, layered with spice, dark fruit, mineral and other flavors. Every part of this wine is so delicious. Last week I purchased a case of the Black Slate 2011 at the Spanish Table in Berkeley. The bottle price at the Spanish Table is $19.99 but the store will give you a 10% discount on a case purchase. This wine will age beautifully, and I will store some away for the future. Robert Parker gives the Black Slate Red 2011 94 points and Steven Tanzer 91 points. I rate it 92, the most points I have rated a wine since we started Wine Values and Bargains. K&L Wines also carries the wine but at a price of $22.99. You must give this wine a try, and we hope that there is enough on the wine shelves for our readers.

Finca San Martin Crianza 2010 – $13.99 Weimax

Finca San Martin wine is a lot of fun right from the get-go. The wine displays characteristics of spice, fresh herb and blueberry. It is a medium-bodied wine, as most Rioja wines are, with fresh acidity and easy tannins. This is an excellent food wine. This wine grows on your palate, with each sip discovering something different in the wine. This a good wine to buy to begin exploring the world of Rioja wines from Spain. This one is 100% Tempranillo. It is a Crianza, which is the lowest among the three elite categories of Rioja wines. Above Crianza, there is Reserva, and then Gran Reserva. The Finca San Martin was aged for two years in American and French oak. I rate this wine at 89 Points.

Movie – Bodegas Mas Alta where the Black Slate is produced and bottled.