N/E Spain - Catalunya - Priorato DOCa

Answer 1

12th: Carthusian monks founded the prior of Scala dei and introduced the art of viticulture to the area.
• Late 1970s: René Barbier saw the potential and set up Clos Mogador and was followed by friends.
• 1993: Alvaro Palacios bottled his L’Ermita from old vine Garnacha & successfully priced it higher vs. Vega Sicilia

Answer 2

Area [south]west of Tarragona, isolated, sparsely populated & surrounded by precipitous mountains
• Most vineyards are planted on the slopes on terraces at 100m-700m above sea level.
• Unique terroir from volcanic origin w licorella (i.e. red slate and mica), 50cm thick over a bedrock of schist which means the vine has to penetrate great depths to find water

• Best vineyards on steep slopes near Gratallop.
• Hot & dry continental climate but cooler in altitude. Low rainfall w 400m/yr. Hi seasonal variation (+35C to -4C)

Answer 3

Reds (96% of plantings)

1. Garnacha – 38%
2. Buds early and requires a long growing season to fully ripen (often the last grape after Cab Sauv to be picked)
3. Vigorous vines i.e. hi yields that prefers hot dry soils
4. Thin skins w light pigments -> pale colour
5. The wines are hi in alcohol, low in tannins w relatively light flavours of raspberries, strawberries
6. Carinena - 25%
7. Originates from Aragon
8. Hi yielding; late budding & ripening (-> warm climate)
9. Thick stalk that makes mechanical harvesting difficult
10. Deep colour, hi acidity, hi tannins w red fruits flavours (cherry, raspberry) and blackberry
11. Often blended
12. CabernetSauvignon - 14%
13. • Progeny of Cab Franc & Sauv Blc
14. • Small-sized berries w concentrated phenolics
15. • Ageing potential and affinity for oak
16. • Moderate yields; deep coloured, tannic full-bodied wines w blackcurrant aromas.
17. Syrah 11%
18. Uncertain origin:
    
    1. From Shiraz in Persia & brought by the Phocaeans
    2. From Syracuse & brought by the Romans
    3. Grew wild in Rhone.
19. Needs warm climate
20. Relatively productive & disease resistant
21. Late budding but doesn’t ripen too late.
22. Loses aroma & acidity rapidly when yields increase
23. Hi proportion of anthocyanins (i.e. dark colour) -> responds well to oak maturation when grapes really ripe.

Others: Merlot (6%)

Answer 4

Whites (4%)

1. Garnacha Blanca - 2%
2. Used in small amounts to add weight and body to Viura-based wines
3. Macabeo 1%
4. Floral fresh fruit character with good acidity when grown in low yields
5. Mainly grown for Cava production

Others: Pedro Ximenez

Answer 5

1,800ha v very low yields due to the thick & poor soils & hot climate -> grapes are very expensive.

Mechanisation impossible. Traditionally vines planted en vaso with newer vineyards en espaldera.

Key hazards: frost, hailstones

Traditional Priorat is made from low yielding Garnacha & Carinena and aged for long periods in oak, developing rancio aromas of game & mushroom. They are deep colour, highly tannic and hi in alcohol

Modern wines produced from both local & international varieties show intense bramble fruit, powerful tannins & oak characters and have long potential.

Answer 6

27,000 hl

Only DOCa in Spain with Rioja.

Dominated by cooperatives but now about 50 bodegas in the regions

Key producers:

Clos Mogador – Gratallops

1. Founded the domain in late 1970s; 20ha for 25,000btls/yr
2. Clos Mogador Tinto reserve: top Spanish reds, made from Garnacha, Cab Sauv, Syrah & Carinena and aged for 16mths in oak

Alvaro Palacios - Gratallops

1. Became world famous with L’Ermita in 1993; made from 100-yr old Garnacha vines and a little Cab Sauv
2. One of the most sought after and most expensive wines in Spain
3. 25ha (& bought-in grapes) for 150,000btls/yr