2018 Clos Mogador Com Tu

The Com Tu is a new project from the famous Clos Mogador. René Barbier was one of the winemakers who discovered the potential of Priorat and is now indispensable in the wine world. They have been in La Figuera since 2002-2003 and became involved in the Espectacle project. Their Laurona project always had some Garnacha from the village and after discovering Espectacle, they focused more attention on the old vineyards in the village. This new wine is based on three vineyards, all Garnacha, at about 550 to 600 meters altitude near the Espectacle vineyard with a total of only approx. 3 HA in size, so supply is very limited. The character of this village wine is determined by flowers, an ethereal nose with orange peel aromas and an incredible structure and can be compared to a juicy Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Com Tu is a new name to follow. The 2017 is the first year and immediately receives high reviews, but in the end this is also from Clos Mogador. Parker writes: "It reminds me of a Garnacha from Châteauneuf"

The Com Tu is a 100% Grenache/Garnacha which has been allowed to mature for 18 months in a 4,000 liter used oak foudre and then another year of bottle aging. The Garnacha grapes ferment in the same foudre with indigenous yeasts. It is still very young and raw and the nose needs to develop, but it has subtle notes of raspberry leaf and wild cherry. The garnacha grapes from La Figuera provide a wine with a unique ruby red color, soft and juicy. The wine is still young, but after decanting you discover the opening with beautiful notes of ripe raspberries and cherries, currants, orange peel, liquorice and violets. This perfect combination is also noticeable in the taste where fruit is accompanied by herbs such as thyme and rosemary, but also dates and figs that add a pleasant sweetness. The wine is powerful on the one hand, and refined on the other with silky tannins and sufficient freshness. He is already very tasty when young, but has immense potential. The taste is more lively and will improve with time. Besides the Espetacle, Com Tu is one of the names to watch in Montsant.

Com tu? means by the way: I am like you (Com tú), you are like me. It is a mix between the Barbier philosophy and the son of Rene Barbier who has been adopted. It is a tribute to all people, no matter the color of their skin, their gender, whatever face or body they have, whether they have a disability or not. The name of the wine should remind you that we are all the same inside. We all share basic needs, they make us human, they make us equal. In summary, I am like you (Com tú), you are like me.

On the other hand, the label is the result of a collaboration between my mother Isabelle, a great artist, and myself. If you look closely enough, you will see two eyes, and in them a man and a woman of a different race, holding hands through the glasses. They need each other so that the glasses do not fall. Thus I see that there is no future for men without women, no future with ethnicities to face; strength comes in numbers. The nose is my signature.

There is no border on the photo, this gives people the freedom to decide whether it is male or female. The name of the wine is written over the mouth with different letters. The "C" refers to my curly hair. The 'O' refers to the mouth, like the shape of an open door, (this is the same symbol the Japanese use by the way ;) opening and communicating with each other to avoid confrontation, in a world where war has already done enough damage. The "M" for music, which calms the animals and brings peace (at least for me). The "T" is two perpendicular pencils, which is how I like to write. And last but not least, the "U" is a bush, being a nature lover like me, it had to be there.

René Barbier (and for years now with his son Rene Barbier Jr) is, together with Carles Pastrana from Clos de l'Obac, Alvaro Palacios (from Rioja, but known for L'Ermita in Priorat) and José Lluis Perez (Clos Martinet, and father of Sarah Perez), one of the "founding fathers" of this recently discovered or rediscovered Priorat wine region. Clos Mogador is named after the single vineyard that René Barbier began cultivating in the 1970s, in the now world-famous village of Gratallops. The wines of Clos Mogador have become mythical wines, just like Sassicaia from Italy and Château Margaux from France. Clos Mogador has the cult status of great world wine. A special feature of René Barbier's wine making: he presses the grapes using an olive oil press, so that only half of the grape juice is obtained (in contrast to a normal press). As a result, the wine is 50% more concentrated and appears almost licorice in the glass. Priorat wines are naturally quite concentrated, and yields are usually already microscopic. Robert Parker was one of the first international journalists to give additional critical acclaim to the wines of Clos Mogador.

In addition to the Clos Mogador, Rene Barbier Jr's wife, the famous winemaker Sara Pérez, makes wines in the Montsant (the region around the Priorat) from the La Universal winery. The Venus and Dido are now also among Spain's best wines. Even more iconic are the wines they make under their own label namely under Sara Perez y Rene Barbier .

Technical info:

35 to 50 years old vineyards and centennial in La Figuera
Average production: 8,000 bottles
Distribution: International and national
Apellation: Montsant DO
Grapes: Single variety 100% Grenache
Size of vineyard: 3 Hectares
Area: Mountain area 580/600m. above sea level
Aging: 18 months in a folder. Bottled 1st week in April 2019
Ethanol: 15%
Volatile acidity: 0.82 g/l
Tartaric acid: 4.8 g/l
Total sulfur dioxide: 25 mg/l
Reducing sugars: 1.5 g/l
pH: 3.76
Type of bottle: “Bourguignon”
Soil: Red clay and limestone