Another great red wine from the Montsant area of Spain.  In recent articles, I’ve rated Finca L’Argatá and Brunus.  Montsant is the great value area that surrounds the cult wine area of Priorat.  Many of the vineyard sites in Montsant offer similar great terroir as those in Priorat but at a fraction of the price.  But, it’s best to know your producers….there are still some fairly rustic wines out there.  The Acústic 2007 is my favorite kind a Montsant:  super mineral, intense black fruit, huge but smooth tannins.    Admittedly it’s a bit closed at first, but it’s a 2007 and needs some air and even some time in bottle.  Acústic has that distinct Montsant character that gives it real originality.  Also interesting in this wine is the use of Samsó, an obscure regional variety that is coming back into favor lately.  It is an intense, structured grape that really plays well with the old vine Garnacha so typical of the area.  Acústic Celler also makes a higher end wine called Braó, that retails for about 22€ and is more a more typical Montsant blend of old vine Garnacha and Cariñena.  Read on for more information on Acústic 2007.

Wine:  Acústic 2007
Winery:  Acústic Celler
Denominación de Origen (DO):Montsant
Alc: 14.5%
Grape varieties: old vine Samsó and Garnacha (35-65 yr old vines)
Oak regime:  10 months in French oak (light toast)
Price:  13€ retail in Madrid

Tasting notes
Visual:  Deep purple color
Nose:  Intense mineral and black fruit nose, a bit earthy, a touch of garrigue.  Quite complex, but the fruit really opens up with some air
Mouth:  Mouth a bit tight at first, with some air, the wine really explodes in them mouth.  Very silky texture, intensely structured with good acidity and big, ripe tannins.  Long, intense finish.

Conclusion: Not the easiest wine to drink at first, so intense, yet tight.  The air really opens it up by bringing the fruit more into play.  This is a wine that will definitely improve in the bottle for the next couple of years.  After one week on the nitrogen machine, it was so much more approachable…though it retained that unique personality that is so characteristic of the area.  Love it!