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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> I've (Michael Franz) gone on record with the prediction that the current decade will belong to Spain, in the sense that this decade will see Spain make the greatest advances in status and prominence among the select set of countries producing fine wine. This prediction is panning out very well indeed, as the wines being shipped from Spain are soaring in quality, and as wine lovers around the world are taking note in droves. The country's most famous regions (such as Rioja) are making better wines than ever before. Even more impressively, regions that were virtually unknown here a decade ago (such as Toro) are now regarded with envy by winegrowers worldwide. In coming months, I'll review early arrivals from Spain's fantastic 2001 vintage, as well as several of the country's most exciting up-and-coming regions, starting here with the most impressive of all: Priorato.

OUTSTANDING
Montsalvat 2000
Siu 1999
Clos Manyetes 2000
Cims de Porrera 1998
Pasanau 1998

VERY GOOD AND REASONABLY AFFORDABLE
Tendral 1999
Barranc dels Closos 2001
Mas Igneus 2000

VERY GOOD
Montgarnatx 2001
Morlanda 1999
Gran Clos 1998
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