Technical sheet:
Winery: Mervm Priorati (Pere Ventura)
D.O.Ca Priorat
Varieties: 60% Garnacha Negra, 15% Cariñena, 15% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 15.0% vol.
Tasting note:
Inicio 2020 stands out for its fresh, fruity, and balanced first impression on the nose. On the palate, however, it is fleshy thanks to the fine structure of ripe tannins, always approachable thanks to its excellent acidity. Notes of wild red fruit, raspberry, and redcurrant can also be detected, together with subtle aniseed nuances. The finish is long and elegant. In the glass, it shows the brilliant hues of ripe picota cherry with pale golden iridescence.
Serving temperature: 16º C
Geology and Soil:
Llicorella soil; rocky and very poor in organic matter, meaning the vines have little vigor and produce low yields. The bedrock is laminated, forcing the vines to develop roots down to 15 meters. Both factors help create an ideal environment for withstanding summer stress and ensuring the grapes ripen progressively and perfectly.
Harvest
The 2020 vintage was marked by a fairly rainy spring and a dry, warm summer and autumn. Garnacha production was irregular due to difficulties during fruit set. The hailstorm in June had no significant effects. The harvest was very healthy and stood out for its quality.
Pairing
At Made in Spain Gourmet, we recommend it with partridge with truffle or mushrooms, duck magret with grape sauce and sweet potato, dishes cooked with free-range eggs, or a selection of artisan cheeses. Its quality lets you enjoy it with anything you like.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested grapes collected in 20 kg crates. 100% of the harvest is destemmed. Fermentation/maceration takes place at controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. After three weeks, the wine is gently pressed using a horizontal pneumatic press. Once pressed, the wine is transferred to 225 l French oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation takes place. The wine ages in oak barrels for 8 to 12 months before blending and bottling. Inicio 2018 is neither filtered nor clarified, and each bottle evolves for several months in the winery before release.
2020 vintage: excellent
At Mervm Priorati, they work hard and strive every day to guarantee the quality standards of their wines. They accept extreme climatic conditions and endure the adversities of heroic viticulture, which 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 very highest quality. The result is a very limited production defined by terroir.
The 2020 vintage was rated Excellent for its quality and for the health 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: mildew. At Mervm Priorati, it struck at flowering, and as a result, a significant proportion of the vines did not bear fruit. The 2020 grape harvest was therefore very good, but also very scarce.
This vintage will be highly prestigious for Mervm Priorati wines.
The region holds the coveted DOCa.
Today, the region holds the coveted “Denominación de Origen Calificada” designation, which in Spain is shared only with Rioja.
The Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat 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 land opens out following the course of the Siurana River downstream toward the Ebro. The Siurana River and its tributaries are the area’s main geographic artery, creating a series of valleys and small plains, also due to the geological sinuosity of the mountain ranges and slopes. According to Catalonia’s legislation on regional administrative division, the territory of the DOCa Priorat falls within a broader administrative area known as the “Comarca del Priorat,” which also includes land that is not part of the winegrowing Priorat.
The Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat 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 municipal area), Poboleda, Porrera, Torroja del Priorat, La Vilella Alta, and La Vilella Baixa. In addition, within the boundaries of the DOQ Priorat are also 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). La Morera de Montsant, Scala Dei, Gratallops, Torroja del Priorat, Porrera, and Poboleda once formed part of the Priorat of the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei. The rest were included in the delimitation of the designation of origin established in 1932, which defines the current territory of the DOCa Priorat. As a result of the expansion of vine cultivation and the quality of its wines—promoted, driven, and dominated by Carthusian monks—the area achieved worldwide renown, making it today one of the most important winegrowing regions in the world.