Acústic Celler Red Montsant | 2021

Forming a horseshoe-like shape around the more famous Priorat region, you still don't see a lot of Montsant wines in the United States, even though, their quality-price ratio is off-the-charts. The Acústic Celler wines had a brief flirtation in Florida, then disappeared from the market. I had them (the red and the white) on my wine lists, and I loved selling them because they were user-friendly but also clearly illustrated their sense of place. Now, after fifteen years, they are back, and I'm excited to share the more delicious, grown-up versions of themselves. Certified organic, the estate now encompasses over 40 hectares of old vineyards located in the villages of Marçà, Capçanes, El Masroig, Els Guiamets, La Serra d’Almos, Darmòs, Siurana and Cornudella de Montsant between 300 and 700 meters with a dream range of soils — slates, granites, sands, and rounded pebbles.

This entry-tier red is unusually Carinyena-forward (70%) with the rest Garnatxa. De-stemmed, 15-day macerations are followed by 11 months in 1-and-2 year-used French barrels. The Carinyena shows itself in the glass with the darkest of red fruits and exotic spices, then old vine Garnatxa gives the wine its lift and glide on the palate. And for those who think these wines are all about the fruit, I strongly disagree, as Acústic Negre reveals jellies of pitch-black stones and dusty earth. A supremely tasty wine for under $30, don't forget about Montsant. ~Allegra A