Priorat Wine Included Ranked 4th on Wine Spectator’s List of Top 100 Wines of 2021

In addition to Priorat Desti 2018, another six wines made the ranking: a Rioja Gran Reserva, an Albariño, a Garnacha from Calatayud, a rosé from the Basque Country and a Ribera del Duero Crianza and a Modelo from Bierzo.

Prestigious wine magazine Wine Spectator has revealed its list of the Top 100 Wines of 2021. This annual ranking reflects the wines that have been reviewed over the last 12 months and were chosen based on a number of factors, including their value, quality, excitement and availability.

There was one Spanish wine in the top ten: Priorat Desti 2018, by Merum Priorati, in Taragona, ranked fourth. This winery extends across 60 acres, mainly home to Cariñena and Garnacha grapes, grown in a town called Porrera. The final blend includes some Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon and is aged in French oak barrels. This winery generally has excellent ratings and this particular wine scored 95 points in the 2017 vintage.

Several other Spanish wines were included in the list. Coming in at number 36 is Bodegas Beronia’s Rioja Gran Reserva. It has solid, integrated acidity and notes of dark cherry, mocha, black tea, anise and graphite.  In 57th place is Albariño Rias Baixas by Bodegas Pazo de Barrantes, a smooth white wine with mouthwatering acidity, a luxurious texture, and flavors of honey cream, tangerine, white blossom, and lime. In 65th place is Atteca Armas Old Vines, a Garnacha from Bodegas Ateca in Calatayud, a charming red, with appealing flavors of black cherry, cocoa and currant paste backed by elegant tannins.

In 68th place is Getariako Txakolina Rosado Txomin Etxaniz, by Etxaniz Txakolina in Getaria, Basque Country. This refreshing rosé has notes of sea salt, grapefruit and cherry as well as wild herb and spices. Bodega Matarromera’s Ribera del Duero’s Crianza came in 78ths. This red wine has spice, loamy earth, anise and glossy cherry notes as well as polished tannins. In 91th place is El Zarzal, a Godello from Bierzo by Bodegas Emilio Moro, which offers generous layers of lychee, orange blossom, papaya and honey flavors that stay focused, with mineral, spice and herb underpinnings. The list aims to celebrate the most successful regions, vintages and wineries from around the world, and Spain made a strong appearance with a handful of wines in the final ranking.