2021 Mas Martinet 'Clos Martinet' Priorat

“Mas Martinet needs no introduction. They are one of the pioneers of the Priorat renaissance from 1989.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

HOT Priorat Wine Spies Exclusive today!

Some wines are so singular and expressive they re-shape your entire perspective on what’s possible.

This is one of those wines.

It comes with receipts, too. A pair of glowing 98/97 point reviews from the pros.

Three superstars share cult status in the region: Erasmus, Mogador, and Martinet. And today this is the only one you’ll find of the trifecta at a price that's affordable - at least relative to the competition.

Priorat stardom comes with a price. Normally you’ll pay around $100 for Clos Mogador. And a perfect 100 point Erasmus will fetch $300+.

So, getting this down to the $50s? A monumental feat, to say the least.

Superstar producers like these represent the true essence of this rugged appellation that alongside Rioja is the only other Spanish wine region entitled to the top designation of DOQ, or Denominació d'Origen Qualificada.

Vinous has the juicy details on what makes this wine so special:

“Sara Pérez runs Mas Martinet, established in 1989 by her father, Josep Luis Pérez Ovejero, one of Priorat’s founding fathers. Based in Falset, the family owns 22 hectares of high-altitude, slate-rich vineyards in Gratallops. They make three single-vineyard bottlings, and an entry-level blend called Martinet Bru. Pérez is among the most innovative winemakers in a region that has no shortage of them. The vineyards are farmed organically. And the wines, which are on the distinctly elegant side for Priorat, are made with native yeasts and no added enzymes. Sara Pérez was among the first here to use clay amphoras, a practice that has caught on across Spain. The vines are almost all very old, thus their yield is quite small, and the single-site wines aren’t usually easy to find. Mas Martinet is one of the leading estates in Spain, by my estimation.”

While there remains a lot more to be said about this monumental wine, we’re leaving you with these profound thoughts by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:

“When making a maiden visit to a wine region and knocking on the door of properties, there will always be one that stands out from the rest. There will be one where the wine enraptures and stimulates the senses unlike any other and offers food for thought long after you have departed with renewed spring in your step. On this occasion, it was Mas Martinet. My senses were almost overwhelmed by the thrilling wines...”

We hear you. The only underwhelming part of all this? Our scant allocation won’t last the day… or morning perhaps.

98 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “The nose of the 2021 Clos Martinet is amazing, very different, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. I wondered why, and there was an explanation. In 2021, it had a shorter vinification, and part was fermented with carbonic maceration and matured mostly in concrete (like in 2009, when it was 100% in concrete, a one-off) and the rest in a 2,000-liter oak foudre. There's a lot of Garnatxa (65%) and the vineyard is quite warm, so they had to find a way to equalize it down. It has lower alcohol and a vibrant palate that is fine-boned and elegant, full of energy and an electric sensation of lightness. It’s tasty and makes you salivate, with an almost salty touch. This is an amazing vintage for Clos Martinet. Drink 2024-2034.”

97 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous *“Josep Lluis Pérez is one of the oenologists who changed the history of Priorat with his technical expertise and his nose for a unique style. Trained as a biologist, Pérez founded Más Martinet in the early 1990s and a school of oenology soon thereafter. It’s widely held that everyone who makes wine in the region today has come under his influence at some point, including his daughter, Sara Pérez, who has taken over oenology duties at the winery. A woman with a strong character and her own ideas, Sara Pérez has set Mas Martinet on a clear path as to which varieties and soils are best for their wines, also instilling a rm set of principles. Vineyards such as Pesseroles (planted in 1939 in the foothills) and Els Esurçons (which climbs up the hills along pure slate terraces), yield strong examples of the house’s talents. Working in an increasingly radical style, today, Mas Martinet uses barely any sulfates, produces Brisat (orange) wines and crafts less concentrated Garnatxas than those seen in the past. The resulting wines bear vibrant, energetic, modern proles, as seen in Clos Martinet, Camí de Pesseroles and Els Escurçons. Sourced from Gratallops in Priorat, the 2021 Clos Martinet is composed primarily of Garnatxa, with the remainder consisting of Syrah, Cariñena and Cabernet Sauvignon. Two-thirds of the wine was fermented and aged in concrete, with one-third aged in foudres and amphorae. This garnet wine offers a reductive character atop a pure core of sour cherry, cinnamon, dried flowers and a faint note of undergrowth. Dry with ne-grained tannins, its compact and rich mouthfeel leads to a savory, long-lasting finish. This nuanced red is precisely defined and crystal clear on the palate. Drink 2025-2036.”