'Les Terrasses' Garnatxa-Samsó 2020

Les Terrasses, like Camins is a regional wine, but is defined as “Velles Vinyes en costers”: taken solely from old mountain bush vines grown on the llicorella (slate) soils of the Cims or hilltops around the rim of Priorat’s high country. It faithfully reflects the historical material Álvaro discovered on arrival in 1989. Les Terrasses is a high quality wine and is significantly good value for an authentic, delicious Priorat with genuine old vine character. Fruit is taken from 80 historical plots scattered through 8 of the 12 Priorat villages, from vines aged 60-90 years and cropped around 1.5 tonnes/hectare. Winemaking is as for Camins, but aged 12 months and bottled unfiltered. Over recent years, it has slowly changed to a Garnacha-dominant wine as more mature Garnacha grown en costers is available.

Garnacha with 45% Samsó. Ashy, deep and dark with rosehips and leathery spice under cherry blossom, with a dash of orange juice. Solid-fruited thanks to the pruney old vine Samsó, it’s garnet coloured, opening to a velvety floral-spice fan on the nose and a mouth-feel wedded to its stony earth origin. Fluent and long, a steely slate freshness underpins the fruit, reflecting the schist soil. The fruit is floral, slinky, dark and abuzz with briary herbs.