The 2003 Miserere has an exuberant bouquet of macerated red cherries, wild strawberry and wild heather that is well-defined considering the heat of the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, juicy red fruit laced with sage, white pepper and touch of balsamic leading to a nicely composed, if short, finish. This is a point. Carles Pastrana was one of the pioneers of Priorat’s renaissance in the 1980s, when viticulture hung by a 700-hectare thread. Alongside Alvaro Palacios and Rene Barbier, Pastrana bottled his first vintage in 1989. His aim is to express the terroir in accordance with the vintage, to reflect its vagaries by always using the same blend of grape varieties year after year, while all his wines are unfiltered. The flagship Clos de l’Obac is one of Priorat’s longest serving wines although I somehow felt that the Bordeaux grape varieties did not quite “gel” with the Rhone. Importer: Vinea Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 313-4994; Mono Verde Imports; www.monoverdeimports.com; and Obac Imports; no telephone number available.

This silky red is elegant and expressive, with raspberry, mineral and garrigue flavors framed by vanilla oak. Not heavy, but has enough tannins for grip. Drink now through 2010. 200 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Priorat Select to Add

Generally speaking, this is a respectable Priorat from a tough year. The nose is berry packed, while the flavors run toward toast-covered raspberry. It’s typically grabby and expansive, as any good young wine from the area will be, yet you can drink it now with meat.——M.S.(8/1/2007)—— 88