Les Aubaguetes 2016

The second vintage of the newer wine in the portfolio, the 2016 Les Aubaguetes was also completing its élevage in oak foudre when I tasted it. The blend is slightly different from the 2015 and is composed of 78% Garnacha, 21% Cariñena and 1% Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo. This is juicier and rounder than the Dofi. It feels a lot better than the 2015, combining the Mediterranean character of Bellmunt with the coolness of the shadowed vineyard that, together with the acidity of the year, makes it stand out and feel like a big step over the initial year. The estimation is they could produce around 1,500 bottles.

I love the floral, black-cherry and white-pepper notes on the nose of this very concentrated single-vineyard Priorat that has great, fine-grained, dry tannins and easily enough freshness to carry this enormous structure. Very long, vibrant mineral finish. Drink or hold.

Les Aubaguetes just gets better. The Cariñena brings a vivid blast of limpid blue fruit to the blend, which is plump and textured with fine cedar notes. The style is brooding with a resoundingly long finish. It's far too young to assess fairly, so it gets 94 now but deserves retasting in due course.
Drinking Window 2020 - 2033