2004 Closa Batllet label, courtesy of WineLibraryTV.com

  Tucked away in the hills of Catalan, Spain, not far from Barcelona, the unique soils (licorella) of Priorat create wines capable of achieving “cult” status.  Since the Priorat region is just slightly over 4000 acres, only America’s most robust wine lists normally feature them.  Only about 6% of that land is planted for white wine grapes, principally Garnacha Blanco.  If you find a white Priorat, you might take advantage of a rare buying opportunity. 

  Andy Chabot, sommelier and wine director at the Blackberry Farm resort outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, jumped at the chance to offer his guests a small batch from Closa Batllet.  Andy described the wine as “just stunning” and noted its stand-out qualities of “acidity and power with minerality and richness.”  Andy had tasted this wine during a visit to the winery in Gratallops a couple of years ago.  He noted that the winemaker, Marc Ripoll, only made 3 barrels of white wine, ”needless to say I was surprised and delighted when my importer told me he had and allotment.”  Andy pairs the wine with dishes that feature Spring vegetables grown on the farm, cheeses produced from the milk of Blackberry’s sheep, and morels and ramps foraged locally.

  Other white wines from Priorat that are currently available on the American markert are La Conreria d’Scala dei Les Brugueres, Mas d’en Compte Blanco and Clos Nelin Mogador Blanco.