The 2012 Masdeu is pure Garnacha from their higher-altitude vineyard at 800 meters. Masdeu is an east-facing, terraced vineyard planted some 55 years ago, and has a high component of chalk in the subsoil. The Mediterranean forest surrounding the vineyards clearly adds aromatic components to the wines. This is the only vineyard that can take the heat of vintages like 2011 and the only single-vineyard red they produced from that vintage. 2012 is more subtle than the 2011 (which I retasted next to this and was still standing and showed fresher than any other Priorat from that torrid vintage) and more restrained than the 2013. It opens to black and red cherries, Mediterranean herbs, hints of truffles, roasted meat and forest floor on the nose. The palate is medium to full-bodied with very good acidity, abundant, fine-grained tannins and a chalky, mineral sensation that sticks to your teeth. Some of the bottles might feel a bit reductive and take time to show the bright fruit and high chalkiness. Open and decant in advance if you have the chance. This is an elegant Priorat built for the long haul. Around 1,200 bottles and 250 magnums produced. I tasted the 2013, which shows extremely promising, more floral and less earthy, all blueberries and violets, and will be slightly different, as there part of the wine is aged in amphorae, part in cement and part in foudre whereas this 2012 was all aged in one single oak foudre.