Some Spanish Wines

At the last tasting in a our tasting group, Göran presented us with one white and four red wines, and we were, as usual, forced to try to make some sense out of them. We don´t, for some reason, taste Spanish wines that often, so this was fun. Especially when I guessed right - for once...
Tasted double blind.

2002 Gran Clos Blanco, Cellers Fuentes
This has an interesting nose with notes of dry honey, tangerines, oil cloth and candle grease. At first I was thinking Chenin Blanc. And the salty scents that appeared later didn´t change my mind.
But the taste did - more volume and fat than a Chenin should have. Too low in acidity also. But very fine notes of sweet tangerines, almond paste, crushed rocks and some melted butter. A long, warm, mature finish. This I like!
90p   (tasted 2015/03)

1997 Viñas Pizarra, Cran Clos de J M Fuentes
This 18 year old Priorat sports a broad, mature nose with notes of ripe red and black cherries, plums, rosehips, damp earth and some vanilla oak scents. Deep and fine. With air there is a hint of a Rioja dill aroma. Very, very good.
The taste is firm and steady with a mature feel and notes of plums, liquorice, undergrowth and cold coffee. A long, mellow but persistent finish. In a great drinking phase now.
90p   (tasted 2015/03)

2007 Gran Clos, Cellers Fuentes
The ten year younger Gran Clos has a big, spicy nose with notes of (over)ripe black cherries, toasted almonds, warm flowers and mulled wine. Deep and complex.
The taste is big, warm and juicy with lots of sweet black fruit and notes of red apples, coconut, warm tiles and coffee grounds. The finish is long and, almost, hot. A fine structure but I think it it a tad too warm. Maybe age will cool it down.
87p   (tasted 2015/03)

2012 Les Terasses Velles Vinyes, Alvaro Palacios
This old vine wine displays a deep, dusty and delightful nose with notes of ripe blueberries, damsons, gravel, fine chocolate and some wood. More restrained in the aroma department, compared to the Gran Clos wines above.
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with notes of warm blueberries, a pine forest, cocoa and road dust. A long, refined finish which showcases some stellar tannins, waiting to be resolved. Give this 3-5+ years in the cellar.
91p   (tasted 2015/03)

2011 Finca Dofi, Alvaro Palacios
Lastly, the young Finca Dofi flows out from the glass with notes of Christmas spices, black cherries, some rasberries, candle grease and sweet coffee. A interesting, handsome nose with a fine depth. Very, very good.
The taste is young, compact and tight with notes of ripe blueberries, chocolate covered raspberries, warm tiles, cold coffee and a touch of oak. A very long, intense finish with a bit of locked in fruit, ends a tad dry. This will need time, but the quality is there. Wait 5+ years.
92p   (tasted 2015/03)