The 2008 Cruor sports a toasty liqueur-like nose reminiscent of a confiture of red and black fruits. Ripe, concentrated, and nicely proportioned, it can be approached now but will continue to blossom for another 2-3 years. Casa Gran del Siurana is the Priorat project of Emporda’s Castillo Perelada. The name comes from a farmhouse known as La Casa Gran located on the outskirts of the Priorat village of Bellmunt on the banks of the river Siurana. There are three levels of Priorat wines beginning with the entry tier GR-174. The middle tier of Casa Gran del Siurana is called Cruor, made up of 30% Garnacha, 20% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carinena, and 10% Merlot (all of the permissible grapes of the Priorat DO). The wine is aged for 14 months in 50% new French oak. The top-tier Gran Cruor gives a starring role to the Syrah grape, unusual in a region where old-vine Garnacha and Carinena usually get top-billing. Unlike the GR-174 and Cruor wines, the blends and elevage vary from year to year.Importer: Perelada USA; www.pereladausa.com

The 2008 Cruor is a powerful blend of Garnacha (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) Carinena (20 %) and Syrah (20%), and has some meaty, reductive aromas intermixed with notes of red cherries and candied orange rind, quite aromatic and different, developing some flowery tones with time in the glass. The palate reveals sophisticated tannins and a herbaceous freshness. Decant before drinking. Drink now-2018. This Bellmunt del Priorat winery belongs to the Perelada group from Emporda producing reliable reds from Priorat. They produce a little bit more than 200,000 bottles, which for the appellation is considerable. Importer: Perelada Comercial, Manhasset, NY; tel. (516) 869-9170

The 2008 Gran Cruor, a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Carinena, spent 18 months in new French oak. Notes of wood smoke, mineral, toasty blue fruits, and lavender inform the nose of this full-bodied wine. In the glass flavors of blueberry jam and pepper lead to a balanced, lengthy wine that will continue to blossom for another 2-3 years. It will be at its best from 2014 to 2023. Casa Gran del Siurana is the Priorat project of Emporda’s Castillo Perelada. The name comes from a farmhouse known as La Casa Gran located on the outskirts of the Priorat village of Bellmunt on the banks of the river Siurana. There are three levels of Priorat wines beginning with the entry tier GR-174. The middle tier of Casa Gran del Siurana is called Cruor, made up of 30% Garnacha, 20% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carinena, and 10% Merlot (all of the permissible grapes of the Priorat DO). The wine is aged for 14 months in 50% new French oak. The top-tier Gran Cruor gives a starring role to the Syrah grape, unusual in a region where old-vine Garnacha and Carinena usually get top-billing. Unlike the GR-174 and Cruor wines, the blends and elevage vary from year to year.Importer: Perelada USA; www.pereladausa.com