Jesús Barquín: The nose displays slightly oxidized black fruit. Very tannic palate, which is worrying for a 2004: I do not see this ever integrating harmoniously. Very astringent finish. 13.5

Alex Hunt: Heady, with masses of alcohol, but still an appetizing piney/blackberry freshness. Very thick-textured, verging on soupy, but with enough structure and aroma in the mouth to carry it. 16

Andrew Jefford: Saturated, deep black-red: almost improbably so, given its age. The aromas are warm, sweet, chocolaty rich (this Aztec note seems to steal in with age in Priorat), heady and enticing. On the palate, the wine is ample, round, vivacious, and long but with astonishing depth and tenacity; and suddenly, of course, the mineral gravity becomes much more apparent on the palate. This is daunting but magnificent wine: a kind of magma of minerals and crushed sweet fruits, drought-loving plants, and blinding skies. There is more freshness, poise, and precision than in most of the Priorats we have looked at; at the same time, it has an unctuousness and a sensual charge that is almost irresistible. Bravo— though honesty compels me to say that, compared to the intrinsically classical, almost svelte wines of the Douro, this is an excessive, exaggerated, clamorous wine. But I love it. 18.5