Accolades

• Wine Advocate reviewed the Vall Llach wines in issue #188 (April 2010):
  - 2007 Celler Vall Llach - 94 pts
  - 2007 Celler Vall Llach Idus - 92 pts
  - 2007 Celler Vall Llach Embruix - 91 pts
  
• In an article on wine gift-giving at every price, Fred Tasker from the Miami Herald recommended the 2005 Vall Llach for gifts in the $50-$100 range: (November 30, 2008)
  ** 2005 Cellar Vall Llach, DOQ Priorato Deep blue velvet in color, with big, rich but not tannic flavors of black plums and mocha; smooth, opulent, $85. The Priorato, 60 miles southeast of Barcelona, is one of Spain's hot areas.
  
• Fred Tasker recommended all three Vall Llach wines in his Miami Herald column on native grapes. (July 31, 2008)
  - 2005 Cellar Vall Llach, DOQ Priorato: deep blue velvet in color, with big, rich but not tannic flavors of black plums and mocha; smooth, opulent
  - Idus de Vall Llach DOQ Priorato: dark color; black cherries and black coffee; minerals and herbs
  - Embruix de Vall Llach DOQ Priorato: soft blackberry flavors; cardamom and licorice
• Vall Llach selected as one of Wine & Spirit's imported "Wineries of the Year" - Vall Llach will be profiled in the magazine in the Winery of the Year issue at the end of 2008.
• Wine Spectator reviews Vall Llach in the June 15, 2008 issue:
  - 2005 Vall Llach Embruix (93 pts)
  Highly Recommended in Spectator Selections
  Rich yet focused, this powerful red from Spain delivers plum, black cherry, anise, tobacco and sage flavors over muscular tannins. It’s thick on the palate, yet dissolves to licorice, spice and flowers on the finish.  Best from 2010 through 2020. 
  - 2005 Vall Llach Idus (88 pts)
  This supple red shows cherry, plum, tobacco and light earth flavors, with firm tannins and a smoky finish. A bit light, but balanced. Drink now through 2013.
• In this article, by Gil Kulers, on Spanish wines in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wines are rated on a scale ranging from thumbs down, one thumb mostly up, one thumb up, two thumbs up, two thumbs way up and golden thumb award. Kulers gave the
  2005 Vall Llach Idus was rated “two thumbs way up” and given the following review, “Wow! Amazing aromas. It had an earthy, truffle-like quality on top of blackberry, black cherry, coffee and chocolate flavors. Even more rich as it opened up.”
• Wine Advocate reviews Vall Llach in the 2008 Spain Report:
  (February 2008)
  - 2005 Vall Llach (96 pts) The flagship 2005 Vall-Llach is composed of 65% Carinena, 15% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot aged for 12 months in new French oak. Many of the Carinena vines for this cuvee are pre-phylloxera. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up a splendid aromatic array including pain grille, slate, mushroom, espresso, garrigue, blueberry, and black currant. Opulent, full-bodied, and rich, this pedal to the metal Priorat possesses 8-10 years of aging potential. The winery claims it can be cellared for up to 50 years; that could well prove true although many of us will not be around to find out or our delay of gratification will have long given out
  -2005 Vall Llach Idus (94 pts) The 2005 Idus is composed of 42% Carinena, 20% Merlot, 15% Garnacha, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah and spent 16 months in seasoned French oak. Dark garnet-colored, it offers up a complex perfume of wood smoke, tobacco, mineral, wild blueberry, black cherry, and black currant. This leads to a full-bodied, opulent, full-flavored wine with lots of extraction, sweet, ripe fruit, well-concealed tannins, and at least 6-8 years of aging potential. This lengthy, gratifying effort should drink well through 2030.
  -2005 Vall Llach Embruix (91 pts) The 2005 Embruix (“bewitched” in Catalan), sourced from the estate’s younger vines, is a blend of 38% Garnacha, 26% Carinena, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, and 6% Merlot. Fifty percent of the wine was barrel fermented and all of it was aged for 16 months in seasoned French oak. Crimson-colored, the wine has an attractive nose of cedar, tobacco, pencil lead, black cherry, and blackberry. Full-bodied, plush, forward, and nearly seamless, it has lots of spicy dark fruits, silky tannin, excellent depth, and a pure finish. Drink this pleasurable wine over the next 6-8 years.
  
  
• Wine Enthusiast applauds Vall Llach wines with great reviews in the August 2007 issue:
  - 2004 Vall Llach, "Stand up and take note: this is great wine from Priorat. And that's regardless of whether it is typically Priorato in style. It traded textbook minerality for lushness, and the fruit is star quality. In the mouth, there's an explosion of grape matter that leaves coffee, chocolate, penut brittle and vanilla." 96 points
  - 2004 Idus de Vall Llach, "Deep and dark, this is an excellent kitchen-sink blend (it includes Carignan, Merlot, Cabernet, Garnacha and Syrah). For those who like expressive, fruity, no-holds-barred wines, you're gonna swoon for this. The palate is super lush and full of dark cherry, tobacco, herbs, and spice while the finish is a mile-long. Outwardly impressive in a moddern style..." 93 points
  - 2004 Embruix de Vall Llach, "Lovers of full-bodied, extracted Priorato wines know Vall Llach, and that cult sees Embruix as a good value. The 2004 is on the right track: the nose is almost impenetrable as it oozes blackberry, tar, and fine leather. Meanwhile, the palate is like warm berry compote followed by espresso and dark chocolate. Very rich although not overly complex. Best now with steak or cheese, orhold until 2008." 92 points
• Wine Spectator reviews Vall Llach wines in the July 2007 issue:
  - 2004 Vall Llach, "This dense red shows a powerful structure, yet there's also a tender texture, delivering sweet berry, garrigue and cocoa flavors that are pure and balanced. This is built for the long haul." 93 points
  - 2004 Idus de Vall Llach, "A solid red, with plum, dark chocolate and mineral notes. The muscular tannins overshadow the fruit, but there's enough acidity for freshness and the fruit emerges ont he finish." 91 points
  - 2004 Embruix de Vall Llach, "This chewy red delivers ripe, roasted flavors of plum, raisin, dried herbs and chocolate, with a muscular structure. Best after 2008." 88 points
• The Wine Advocate, Jay Miller, rates the 2004 Vall Llach line-up in the February 2007 issue:
  - Vall Llach, "full-bodied (15.5% alcohol), and packed, there is plenty of ripe tannins and excellent balance... It should easily last for several decades." 93 points
  - Idus de Vall Llach, "Saturated purple... elements of smoke, earth, mineral, and blackberry... full-bodied and tightly wound...the raw materials are all there.The fruit is layered and concentrated, the components in balance, and there is enough structure for long-term cellaring." 91 points
  - Embruix de Vall Llach, "Aromas of smoke, toast, pepper, grilled meat, blueberry, and blackberry...a wine with attractive, spicy, black fruit flavors of modest depth and soft tannins. It should round out with 1-3 years of bottle age and drink well through 2014." 89 points
• Jan 2007 Accolade Sheets
  - Vall Llach
  - Idus de Vall Llach
  - Embruix de Vall Llach