2016 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles 750 ml

A Wine Access member-favorite is back, this time with a quality-to-price ratio that took even us by surprise. Ferrer Bobet, one of the elite producers of Priorat, captured the rugged boldness of the region with this gorgeously rich and full-bodied 2016 old vines release. Scented with crushed herbs and wild cherry, it’s got the inky concentration of old-vine Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but with the high-toned freshness that defined this vintage in Spain.

The critics agreed, honoring this value stunner with top scores. In their 94-point rave, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate  was effusive: “This is showing extremely well, combining power and elegance in a wine that feels concentrated but fresh, with the electric acidity of the vintage.” 

That was our impression too. Straight out of the bottle, the first saturated ruby glass gripped us with its purity and mineral-driven cut. By the time we were pouring a third glass with dinner—dry-aged ribeyes straight from the grill—each sip was a complex revelation of floral and fruit nuance, seasoned with spice.

Our relationship with the Ferrer Bobet team netted us almost unheard-of terms for the exceptional 2016 release, given the region, pedigree, and critical acclaim: We’re making this bottle available for just $35—44% off the list price.That’s a deal you simply can’t walk away from for a 94-point Spanish stallion like this one.

Founded in 2002 by Sergi Ferrer-Salat and Raül Bobet, Ferrer Bobet has rocketed to the top of the Who’s Who list in Spain, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Scala Dei and Mas Doix. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has called it “the future showplace of Priorat.” The winery has distinguished itself through a strict regimen of organic viticulture and high-altitude growing conditions that eke every last drop of concentration—sleek and packed with ripe berries—out of the century-old vines.

Our trip to visit Ferrer Bobet last year made clear just how much these wines are infused with the characteristics of the land. A sniff of the air in Ferrer Bobet’s high-elevation vineyards and you get the same aromas of wild herbs, fennel, and baked earth that rise out of the glass. The llicorella slate soils that crunched beneath our boots during the trip show in the earthy mineral depth of this wine. The baking sun that left our forearms reddened also leaves its mark on the Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah and vines, yielding voluptuous concentration in the grapes.

Painstaking measures are taken in the vineyard, where strict organic viticulture rules the day, no insecticides or pesticides allowed. Just 37 of the estate’s total 172 acres are planted, allowing biodiversity to flourish and creating an ecosystem that invests the vines with natural vivacity and purity. Grapes from 20-year-old estate vineyards are hand-picked and sorted berry by berry. Aging occurs in 60% new French oak barrels, endowing the rich, dark fruit profile with subtle spice.

With 94 points, this fantastic value stands up to top wines from the Rhône that are more than twice the price. This should attract lovers of full-bodied reds like moths to the flame.