Rotllan Torra Reserva 2001 - $18
August 21, 2007 by michael
I was recently asked by a friend to recommend a Spanish red wine from Catalonia that was to be a gift for a wedding. Without hesitation, I suggested the Priorat region - specifically 2001 or 2003 vintage. I myself really love wines from Priorat. Grown in black slate soil of volcanic origin and containing primarily grenache, often along with carignan and/or cabernet, Priorat wines are earthy and balanced, and usually very unique.
Recently I opened a bottle of the 2001 Rotllan Torra Reserva (vintage on image is wrong). Being of “reserva” classification, this wine was oaked for at least 12 months, then aged for 24 months in the bottle. The color was ruby and the nose was explosive with chocolate and cherry. The complex layers of wine offered raspberry, sour cherry, white chocolate, eggnog, vanilla, and dried cranberry…all wrapped up in minerals and earth. A long, velvety finish was what I expected with the soft tannins and balanced acidity. This was ready to be consumed - I doubt further aging is required.
On a traditional point scale I’d give this a 90. It was very, very good. The 2001 Rotllan Torra Reserva serves as a reminder that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a very high quality, enjoyable wine. The best way to find great wines at good prices is to do some research. Find out what vintages of a specific region excelled, then go to the store and pick a wine from that vintage that is less than $20. It’s quite likely that you’ll be more than satisfied with your purchase!
I had this wine in a wine bar two nights ago with some friends and was simply astounded. It was a roll of the dice, we had no idea what to expect. Forgive my idiosyncratic description, I’m a little bit synesthetic, but it was like being cloaked in warm velvet scented with Christmas herbs on a cold night. Lush and spacious, deep, fireside, sleepy, equine, Noel, Ave Maria cathedral-forest of echoing clove, cinnamon and fruit.