Pedro Ballesteros MW: 95

Robert Parker: 94
James Suckling: 95
Hudin: 94
Tim Aktin: 96

Ferrer Bobet Robert Parker Bobet Ferrer Bobet Seleccio Especial 2008 11

2002 Torres Ral Bobet Sergi Ferrer-Salat Priorat

Garnacha (Grenache) Cariena (Carignan) llicorella

Pedro Ballesteros MW Ral Bobet Cariena

Seleccio Especial Cariena 18 24 Priorat

DOQ Priorat

100% Carignan

14.5%

750

10

– 18 24

(Robert Parker’s rating: 94 points)
2020 Selecci Especial Vinyes Velles Cariena 14.5% 19 225

(James Suckling’s rating: 95 points)
Priorat

(Pedro Ballesteros MW: 95 points)
Cariena Priorat
Ral Bobet 2020 Cariena
(2025-2045)

Ferrer Bobet is a modern legend in Spanish wine. Founded in 2002 by Ral Bobet, former Chief Winemaker at Torres, and pharmaceutical magnate Sergi Ferrer-Salat, the cutting-edge winery in Priorat stands as a bold symbol of innovation and finesse.

Renowned critic Robert Parker praised its wines for everything in an amazing balance, and its 2008 flagship was featured as the 11th Apostle in The Drops of God manga.

The estate cultivates Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariena (Carignan) on steep slopes rich in llicorella slate, benefiting from dramatic day-night temperature shifts. Pedro Ballesteros MW hails Ral Bobet as a master of Cariena, crafting wines of remarkable texture and complexity.

Selecci Especial: The flagship wine, crafted from century-old Cariena vines on cool, steep slopes. Aged 18 months in French oak, plus 24 months in bottle. A benchmark of elegance and depth.

Denomination:
DOQ Priorat, Spain

Country of Origin:
Spain

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties:
100% Old Carignan

Alcohol Content:
14.5%

Volume:
750mL

Vinification:
Grapes from steep slate hillsides and terraces picked by hand into 10kg boxes. Selected berry by berry on a double sorting table and then transferred to tanks by gravity. Fermentation in 15 and 30 hL wooden tanks.

Ageing:
Malolactic conversion and aging in new fine-grained, medium and lightly toasted French oak barrels for 18 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Bottle aged for a minimum 24 months.

Tasting Notes:
(Robert Parker’s rating: 94 points)
The earthier and darker 2020 Selecci Especial Vinyes Velles shows more elegance and freshness through the Cariena grapes that achieved good ripeness (and the wine again hit the 14.5% alcohol mark), but it keeps balance and freshness that I didn’t find in the other bottling. It’s also generously oaked (19 months in 225-liter barrels), but the depth of fruit seems to have taken it better.

(James Suckling’s rating: 95 points)
This is a consistently striking Priorat that does not disappoint. The close-knit oak spices have found a way to interact with the rich but fresh blueberries, blue plums, cocoa powder, minerals and slate. Really fresh and exuberant, with a medium to full body rounded by powdery, melted tannins that are very supportive. The long and bright finish goes on for a while. Impressive complexity and vibrancy.

(Pedro Ballesteros MW: 95 points)
Carinena is a difficult grape variety to work with in Priorat. It is not aromatic, needs some ageing to open up, it is better on the palate than on the nose. And, most of all, it yields top quality only from old vines, those whose vigour is diminished. Raul Bobet is one of the greatest Carinena masters. He is able to get extreme complexity and amazing textures in his wines. This 2020 is a good example of Cariena finesse and complexity. Tight but round, with a parsimonious finish that promises further development with bottle ageing.
(Drinking Window: 2025-2045)