A sleek, finely meshed red bearing a dark purple hue, with a mix of cassis, boysenberry, violet and espresso notes expanding on the palate and framed by supple tannins. Long and lightly mouthwatering, this is a well-tailored version, with ripe fruit and abundant herbs and spice lingering on the finish. Carignan and Grenache. Drink now through 2029. 2,236 cases made, 465 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Spain / Priorat Select to Add

I found the 2018 Vinyes Velles to be quite ripe with notes of prunes and decayed violets, with 14.5% alcohol and a low pH, so the nose seems overripe but the palate feels fresher. It's 84% Cari?ena and 16% Garnacha matured in 225-liter oak barrels for 15 months. Ripe and generously oaked. 23,920 bottles and 501 magnums. It was bottled in July 2020.

The medley of black cherry, currant and plum is focused and lively and flanked with tar, smoke and spice undertones. This has depth, freshness and harmony of flavors. Carignan and Grenache. Drink now through 2033. 300 cases imported.??–GS??Region: Spain / Priorat Select to Add

The 2017 Vinyes Velles was produced with 74% Cari?ena and 26% Garnacha from slope vineyards older than 70 years on llicorella slate soils all within the limits of the village of Porrera. All of the wines are produced in a similar way—fermentation after a short cold soak, with pumping over and punching down and macerated until the taste tells them it's enough. This wine matured in 225-liter French barriques for 16 months. In a warmer year, the high percentage of Cari?ena has worked wonders; it has herbal and floral aromas and a rustic side but is mostly elegant. It's beautifully textured, and the tannins are very fine; there is no sense of heat at all, and it has amazing balance and a very tasty finish. The oak is perfectly integrated. These wines have a very low pH, as there is no potassium in the slate soils and the wines keep good freshness. 23,290 bottles and 501 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2019.

As with other wines, the 2016 Vinyes Velles has a little less alcohol and more acidity than the 2015. There is a little more Cari?ena, up to 70%, and the rest is Garnacha from old vines planted on slopes ("costers") and terraces. This is showing extremely well, combining power and elegance in a wine that feels concentrated but fresh, with the electric acidity of the vintage. It has floral, berry and herbal aromas and flavors and a supple finish, where the subtle minerality and texture seem to also provide an almost salty finish. 24,334 bottles and 500 magnums were bottled after 16 months in 225-liter French oak barrels.