How off the presses and the boat! Our first shipment of this gem just arrived... and lo and behold, not a couple days later, a 96 pt review! Since you purchased the previous vintage, you get first dibs. Please reply to order. The wine arrives Friday. 

Mas d'en Compte Black Slate Gratallops Priorat 2019

Sale $21.99

Buy six or more pay $19.99

96 pts Jeb Dunnuck

The Black Slate project was started by importer Eric Solomon. He has selected wineries from all over Priorat to highlight their own interpretation of the famed “Black Slate” soil – aka licorella. Celler Cecilio is located in Gratallops, in the heart of Priorat, and was the first winery registered in the D.O.Ca. It is a family estate dedicated to making and bottling wine since 1942, established and founded by Cecilio Vicent, father of the current owner and winemaker, August. When Cecilio, a native of Valencia, settled in the Priorat, he met and married into a family with many hectares of vineyards. At that time these vineyards had been neglected so Cecilio set about restoring them first selling his grapes to the local cooperative while studying winemaking. Finally in 1942 he began bottling his own wines in a small stable he renovated into a cellar which is still in operation today under the stewardship of his son August Vicent. Luckily, he is a neighbor of importer Eric Solomon, so when the opportunity to make a Black Slate from his vines arose, Eric jumped!

Simply stunning, this baby is at home with simple, hearty food, like lamb grilled simply with rosemary, salt and pepper. As the weather turns colder, this is absolutely amazing with comfort dishes – braised rabbit with olives, roast pork shoulder, braised short ribs, etc. Hmm…

“A blend of 64% Grenache, 27% Carignan and 9% Syrah, the 2019 Black Slate Gratallops Vi De Vila comes from one of the warmer regions in the Priorat. Gorgeous black raspberries, liquid violets, garrigue, chalky minerality, and hints of rose petal all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied and beautifully textured, with ultra-fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. With a liquid rock-like minerality that’s something to behold, this gorgeous, elegant wine is going to evolve for 10-12 years with no issues." JD

Reply to order. 

So... what are our plans for reopening to foot traffic? 

Grocery stores are open... other retail stores are open... why aren't we? 

There are a myriad of issues at play, and Rich and I have discussed at great length... Rather than get into a discussion about the science behind it all, which is a touchy subject, I will boil it down to this very simple explanation.

If one of the gang tests positive for COVID, we have to close for upwards of two weeks.

Close the store. In the busiest time of the year. Closed. As in no wine being delivered or carried to people's cars. Or revenue coming in. Just closed. 

We are one of, if not the, largest non-chain independent wine retailers in the state. Yahoo! But we are small. If someone in a grocery store tests positive, they send home those working in close proximity (which is few), clean the work station and reopen the next day. If one of us tests positive, everyone has to stay home, as it is impossible for us not to be in close quarters. 

So... we are not reopening for foot traffic. Yes, my employee's (and your) health and safety is priority #1. But a close second is being able to keep them employed (and pay for my daughter's college tuition). Oh, I suppose we could just do what some other businesses have done... keep working and don't even tell your employees you are positive... send home the positive person and keep everyone else working... somehow, I don't think you want us to do that. (And if you think I am exaggerating on what others have done, you are mistaken.) I have other desperate options... closing one of the stores and bringing over non-exposed people, then hiring emergency part-timers, and... ugh, my head hurts even thinking about trying to make that work. 

We miss you. Rich misses you. Jen misses you. Tim, Lauren, Danielle, Jill, Neal, Pearl... they all miss you. Even Drew, the New Guy misses you, because we've told him great things about you. 

So call us! We have so many phone lines right now, my wallet hurts! 

Keep emailing us orders... use the website... we will take care of your every wine-related need. And you will drink a lot better than if you risk the shelves at the grocery store!

We will keep reevaluating and I will keep letting everyone know what we are thinking. 

Thank you so very much for your business. We are all very grateful to you for keeping us gainfully employed.

Cheers! (Ugh... I hate that sign off... it's so expected of a wine guy isn't it? But I did it. Sigh...)

Todd