Review by: Jay Miller

Wine Advocate: Issue 175, February 2008



The 2005 Clos Martinet contains a significant percentage of old-vine Carinena. Inky purple, it exhibits a brooding bouquet of mineral, scorched earth, black cherry, and black raspberry. Like the Martinet Bru, it has significant tannin but with enough fruit for balance. Dense, structured, and backward, this strapping Priorat is in need of 8-10 years of further cellaring. Purchasers must be willing to defer gratification for an extended period but they will eventually be rewarded.



Mas Martinet is owned by Jose Luis Perez, one of the original Priorat pioneers. He has turned over day-to-day operations to his daughter Sara Perez. The estate owns 10 hectares of vineyard planted in the famous llicorella Catalan soil (alternating layers of slate and quartz). Approximately 3000 cases are produced, 1500 of Martinet Bru and 1500 of Clos Martinet.