Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

We discovered discover this Garnacha Blanca blend during our May 2015 visit to Clos Mogador. Rene's son Rene had us jump in his old SUV and drove us through their steep and rocky hillside vineyards. If you've had their reds and wondered why fennel notes are there, it grows all over their property. After a tour of their vineyards we went back to their patio for a tasting...and what a view. Shown in the photos. We started the tasting with the 2010 Nelin. It was the first time we'd had it. At the time, one of the more unique whites we'd had in a long time. It was bright, fresh, subdued fruity, tangy with amazing crisp minerality. Afterwards, we went to lunch at "Amics" near by Clos Mogador. The best & most original 4 course lunches we had for seventy euros with a bottle of this wine. Great service and unparalleled accommodation. It didn't have a star but it should. The nicest couple from Brazil run it. Tonight's revisit is the 2011 and it's had a little better than 5 years in the bottle. It's definitely changed. It's, more golden now, weightier, thicker, more oily and picked up not quite a petrol quality. The fruits are; peach, apricot, pineapple, lemon & lime juice. Notes of honey, wild fragrant florals, amazing chalky minerality, perfect round acidity and a round, lush finish that we absolutely love. The blend is mostly Garnacha Blanca with some Viognier, Roussanne & Pinot Blanc. Photos of the property, views, and the father & son winemaking team of Rene & Rene Barbier. Producer history & notes...Clos Mogador produces estate bottled wines in Gratallops, Catalonia in the DOQ Priorat. Founded in 1979 by René Barbier III and his wife Isabelle Meyer. With several friends, they began replanting terraces and recuperating old ones to eventually have their first release in 1989 as Clos Mogador. This name comes from a novel written by an aunt named, Élisabeth Barbier called, “Les Gens de Mogador”, “The people of Mogador”; which chronicles the rise and fall of a family from near Avignon in France on an imaginary estate called, Mogador. Clos Mogador is 13 hectares. Six hectares are made of 80 years old Cariñena vines, two hectares of 6 years old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, three hectares of 6 years old Garnacha vines and 2 hectares of 6 year old are Syrah vines. They use mostly organic methods. It is worth knowing that at the winemaking stage, Rene Barbier uses an olive press instead of a normal wine press to extract the juice. This results in an even more intense wine from what are already highly concentrated grapes from low yields. Try the Nelin, it's simply delicious!!! Cheers. — 8 years ago

Michele Laughlin

8.9

Yum! Trying a Spring Boquet fliggt at Vino Volo at BWI — 9 years ago

Sean Trapani

Founder/Educator Wine Fluent, Consultant ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

9.4

Easy drinking with softly sweet black fruits. Lovely balance that paired well with Christmas sugar cookies. — 9 years ago

with Paul

V Cramarossa

8.9

Vegas at Scarpetta — 10 years ago

Roberto Pacheco

10

Enjoying a great dinner at Paesano's Quarry Market location. Robbie Pacheco, wine director suggested a Paul Jabouet 1984 "Hermitage". Incredible!!!!!! — 11 years ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Thirty minute decant. Wow. Opulent fruit: currants & plums come in a tidal wave. Tobacco and some spice box with a little green bell pepper. Finish lasts at least 30 seconds. Soft as velvet. Held up great over two days. Tremendous. — 11 years ago

Pierre And Paula Soler

10

Excellent. Another winner from the Terraces!! — 12 years ago

Brian Joynt

9.6

Had at Quarry. Last bottle. Was spectacular. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

First wine we have tried from Agharta Wines and first Cabernet from Pax. Beautiful ruby red with a dark core. Great complexity and layers on the nose, starting with an attack of fresh blueberries and opens up to a few savory and tons of floral notes. Beautiful bouquet of roses, lavendar and lilac with a smokey undertone and a touch of eucalyptus. Nose just keeps changing as it opens. Overall great mouthfeel and well rounded. Moderate tannins (5/10) that is coated in red cherries and raspberries. Moderate body and moderate plus finish. A little shorter than we would have liked but very well integrated. Overall pretty good bargin at around $30 a bottle. Drink till 2021. — 9 years ago

with Sean

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

One of the best value Rieslings at Fass Selections. So mineral. Like a rock quarry. Wonderful purity and concentration of peach/nectarine/cherry fruit on a slab of minerals. Terrific wine. Andi gets terrific mouthfeel from his dry Rieslings. Exquisite balance. — 9 years ago

Cathy Madison

8.9

At Nirvana for work function — 9 years ago

Guy Davies

9.7

Very deep dark nose. Surprising subtlety & complexity on the palate at this stage. Really lifted and complex finish. Dark fruit and lavender and violets, very long — 10 years ago

Lora Shepherd

10

At theBull and Thistle this is The Roaring Twenties night — 11 years ago

John Simons

10

Jeanne's favorite — 11 years ago

Pierre And Paula Soler

10

Excellent! Smooth and nice Bouquet!! — 12 years ago

Tim Shundo

9.5

An ever so delightful pick. Not to acidic and just the right amount of fruity bliss. — 13 years ago

Jason Wagar

8.9

Paired so nicely with a seafood-forward meal we had at the outstanding (and simply stunning) new Grey Gardens resto in Kensington Market. This chard was ever-so-slightly effervescent which only added to its bright and fresh quality. — 8 years ago

Michelle Connely

9.2

Consumed July 2016. I'm not normally a fan of Chenin Blanc but this was really good. Received this in one of my wine shipments. — 9 years ago

Dr.Meandor

8.9

Tasted 22/05/2015

Wonderful specimen - rich, thrilling, fleshy.
Composed of different selections of Pinot Noir, grown on plots in terraces over 14 ha winery has at hills of Zion. 
Dark cherry red colour, crimson rim. Oily legs.
Splendid nose of chocolate, brine, squeezed strawberry, cassis, tobacco, black currant, blue fig.
Silky medium-plus palate of hackish balance. Velvety tannins. Embracing flavors of black cherry liquor, black gooseberry, strawberry jam, black currant marmalade.
Noble lingering finish...
Paired to beef tenderloin with Russian sauce. — 9 years ago

Rick Phillips

9.3

Great flavors. Has many years left in the bottle. Tim knows how to build a wine! — 9 years ago

with Letha

Aaron Reyes

10

Pairs nicely with pugs. — 10 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.8

Vintage Champagne like this is my reason for off-site storage. If it is at home, I drink it, and unlike Bordeaux or Burgundy that is too young, it tastes great. The problem is that it will be even better later! This is top 2008 with a quarry worth of chalk and a basket full of white fruit. It was excellent with the Ahi. Add 10 years for texture and warm bread! — 10 years ago

with Cleora

Deb Martin

9.7

At Max's wine Bar Quarry Market. A little bubbly for early bday celebration with Tim. This bubbly is awesome and Sabrina recommend it and gave us a sip to toast! Happy early bday me! — 12 years ago

Pierre And Paula Soler

10

Awesome. Great everyday drinking wine! — 12 years ago