Technical sheet:

Winery: Mervm Priorati (Pere Ventura)

D.O.Ca. Priorat

Vintage: 2020

Varieties: 30% Garnacha Negra, 15% Cariñena, 30% Syrah and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol: 15.5% vol.

Tasting notes:

El Cel 2020 is an exclusive, limited and select wine; a wine built for long aging, complete, intensely expressive and with a character that evolves over time. The first impression on the nose brings aromas of blueberries, black fruit and the spirit of the Mediterranean countryside. On the second nosing, El Cel 2020’s aromatic display is endless: the scent of fine pastries mingles with ribbons of butter spread over freshly baked toasted bread, like the toast we ate as children; we also sense the sweet aroma released by this slate land after the rain or at sunset. El Cel 2020 also accompanies us in the perception of aromas that are hard to describe, evoking memories lived beneath our own particular land and sky. On the palate, El Cel 2020 is full-bodied, structured, mineral, with well-integrated notes from oak aging. We appreciate flavors of forest berries, blackberries and plums, along with chocolate, smoky and toasted notes acquired during its evolution in barrel. Once served, the deep red of El Cel 2020 reflects, because it carries the reverberation of all the colors of a land, the pulse of blood and the reflection of a sky, now changing, now steady.

Serving temperature: 16º C

Geology and Soil:

Llicorella: rocky and very poor in organic matter, so the vines have little vigor and offer low yields. The bedrock is laminated, forcing the vines to develop roots down to 15 meters. Both factors help create an ideal environment to withstand summer stress and consolidate the progressive, perfect ripening of the grapes.

Harvest

The 2020 vintage was marked by a very rainy spring and a dry, warm summer and autumn. Garnacha production was irregular due to difficulties with fruit set. The hailstorm in June had no major effects. The harvest was very healthy and stood out for its quality.

Pairing

A wine as sublime and full-bodied as El Cel 2020 leads us at Made in Spain Gourmet to recommend pairing it with indulgent dishes such as hare confit in a pickle of herbs and vegetables, suckling pig terrine, or venison loin with pomegranate sauce. In any setting, El Cel always lifts the richness of fat and enhances every pleasure. Among our cheeses, reserve-aged goat and sheep cheeses are the favorites for this pairing, and an especially distinctive option is Tormentoso by Quesos Calaveruela. Sublime.

Winemaking:

Hand-harvested grapes collected in 20 kg crates. 100% of the harvest is destemmed. Fermentation/maceration is carried out at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. After three weeks, a gentle pressing is performed using a horizontal pneumatic press. Once pressed, the wine is transferred to 225 l French oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation takes place. After aging for between 14 and 18 months in oak barrels, the wine is blended and bottled. El Cel 2020 is neither filtered nor clarified.

2020 vintage: extraordinary

At Mervm Priorati, they work hard and strive every day to guarantee the quality standards of their wines. They accept extreme weather conditions and endure the adversities of heroic viticulture that shape the character of the land. They work exclusively with grapes from their own estates: origin is the only path to guaranteeing wines of the highest quality. The result is a very limited production defined by terroir.

The 2020 vintage was rated Excellent for its quality and for the healthy condition of the grapes. However, abundant rainfall in the vineyard and excess humidity combined with overly warm temperatures created the perfect environment for the development of one of the most devastating fungal diseases: downy mildew. At Mervm Priorati, it struck during flowering and, as a result, a significant proportion of the vines bore no fruit. The 2020 grape harvest was therefore very good, but also very scarce.

This vintage will bring great prestige to the wines of Mervm Priorati.
The region holds the coveted DOCa.

Today, the region holds the coveted “Denominación de Origen Calificada” designation, which in Spain it shares only with Rioja.

The Priorat Denominación de Origen Calificada is a small mountainous region located in the province of Tarragona. The Montsant mountain range borders it to the north; to the west lies the La Figuera range, to the east the Molló range, and to the south the territory opens along the course of the Siurana River downstream toward the Ebro. The Siurana River and its tributaries are the area’s main geographical artery, creating a series of valleys and small plains, also thanks to the geological sinuosity of the mountain ranges and slopes. In accordance with Catalan legislation on regional administrative division, the DOCa Priorat territory falls within a broader administrative boundary known as the “Comarca del Priorat,” which also includes an area that is not part of the winegrowing Priorat.

The Priorat Denominación de Origen Calificada covers 17,629 hectares, of which 2,163.97 are planted with vines and cultivated by 513 winegrowers. Administratively, 9 municipalities form part of the DOCa Priorat: Bellmunt del Priorat, Gratallops, El Lloar, El Molar, La Morera de Montsant (which includes the village of Scala Dei within its municipality), Poboleda, Porrera, Torroja del Priorat, La Vilella Alta and La Vilella Baixa. In addition, the northern part of the municipality of Falset (the Masos de Falset area) and the eastern part of the municipality of El Molar (Les Solanes del Molar) also lie within the boundaries of the DOQ Priorat. La Morera de Montsant, Scala Dei, Gratallops, Torroja del Priorat, Porrera and Poboleda were formerly part of the Priorat of the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei. The rest were included in the delimitation of the designation of origin carried out in 1932, which shaped the current DOCa Priorat territory. As a result of the expansion of vine cultivation and the quality of its wines, promoted, driven and dominated by the Carthusian monks, the area gained worldwide renown, making it today one of the most important winegrowing regions in the world.