The 2003 DOIX Costers Vinyes Velles, the product of a very hot vintage, is remarkably fresh with no baked aromas. The old vines with their deep roots had no difficulty accessing water. It displays an earthy minerality, incense, spice notes, and wood smoke. Ripe, succulent, and approachable, this impeccably balanced effort should reach its peak in a few years and drink well for a decade thereafter. Mas Doix has a story quite common in Priorat in which professional people living in the big cities return to reclaim the family heritage (and are having more fun than they ever did before). Mas Doix’s flagship cuvee is named DOIX Costers Vinyes Velles with an annual production of only 4-7,000 bottles. It is typically a blend of old-vine Garnacha and Carinena (80-108 years of age) with the proportions varying slightly from year to year. The wine is aged in 100% new French oak for 14-18 months. Importer: Eric Solomon Selections, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565