This was one of my best finds of 2004. I was able to get my hands on some last year through Wine Library. I have not seen this wine at any other retailer — not sure how many of the 900 bottles were allocated to the U.S. market.Spain is hot — and Priorat is one of the hottest regions in Spain. Named for the “Prior” or head of the Cartesian Monks who planted the area’s original vines, Priorat is located in Catalonia, Spain, and is mostly about altitude – the region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca (county) is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000m. The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter – perfect for grapes. You can also still find great values from Priorat — and the wines are very compelling. Why? Spain has more than 600 indigenous varietals — it also has the highest percentage of lander under vine in the world and is the number 3 producer in terms of quantity.I paid $60 per bottle. The wine is currently selling on auction sites from three times that price. You may not find Nit De Nin 04, but be on the watch for the soon to be released 2005s……and seek out many of the other great wines of Priorat.

I still have some 04 Nit de Nin that I might be willing to sell or trade.

The wine is imported by Eric Solomon — and there are some rumors that some of his other wines have gotten preferential treatment from Parker.

Parker notes
98 Points – Jay Miller – The Wine Advocate
“Only three barrels are made of Nit de Nin, made by Ester Nin, the vineyard manager for Clos Erasmus. The 2004 is 60% Garnacha, 30% Carinena, and 10% Syrah aged for 18 months in French oak. Purple/black, the wine has a fragrant perfume of mineral, truffle, creme de cassis, kirsch, and blueberry. Super-rich and layered on the palate, this opulent wine has exceptional depth and impeccable balance as well as a 60-second finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.”