2018 Sara Pérez y René Barbier Gratallops Partida Bellvisos Blanc
Type of Wine | |
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Country | |
Region | |
Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
Winery | |
Vintage | 2018 |
Grape | |
Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14.5%) |
Drink window | 2022 - 2029 |
Description
When Rene Barbier Jr (Clos Mogador) together with his spouse Sara Perez (Venus Universal and Mas Martinet) got the abandoned very old "coster" (steeply sloping traditional Priorat vineyard) back into production, it was thought that they had bought a plot of Carinyena (Carignan) had bought ... and to their great surprise they discovered that 40% of the plot consisted of Garnatxa Peluda (native Grenache). This grape ripens before the Carinyena (Carignan) and gives more freshness. Coincidence and luck because it is the last piece of the puzzle that was needed to convey the balance of Bellvisos.
The 2018 Gratallops Partida Bellvisos Blanc is serious, subtle and very insinuating. As with a Clos Mogador (or with a beautiful white Rioja, or white Hermitage) these wines have fresh oxidative. It is amazing that this does not feel at all like a white wine from a warm climate and has an amazing freshness. It has a bright golden yellow color and a serious and mineral taste, with a dry, mineral feeling that resembles licking stones. Only 820 bottles of this topper have been produced and it is not surprising that if you have been taught by your father that this wine can best be placed in the list of Clos Mogador Nelin. 95/100 Parker.
Specifications
Type of Wine | White |
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Country | Spain |
Region | Catalunya |
Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
Winery | Sara Pérez y René Barbier |
Grape | Grenache |
Biological certified | No |
Natural wine | No |
Vegan | No |
Vintage | 2018 |
Drinking as of | 2022 |
Drinking till | 2029 |
Alcohol % | 14.5 |
Alcohol free/low | No |
Content | 0.75 ltr |
Oak aging | Yes |
Sparkling | No |
Dessert wine | No |
Closure | Cork |
Parker rating | 96 |
Vinous rating | 96 |
Tasting Profiles | Aromatic, Floral, Complex, Dry, Aged on wood, Powerful, Spicy, Rich, Round, Full, White fruit |
Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Wijnhuis
René Barbier (fourth generation of the same name !!!) started in the world of wine in 1992 at Clos Mogador with his father, the other René Barbier, the bearded and dedicated more than 20 years of his life to wine there. The first 10 years he worked mainly in the winery and then mainly in the vineyards and learned that unique land brings unique wines. This has now been proven with the iconic Clos Mogador, Venus Universal and Espectacle wines. In 2001 Rene Barbier had the opportunity to buy a small very old "coster" (steep sloping, traditional) vineyard called Els Bellvisos. This vineyard was abandoned and it was fascinating, in the middle of a steep quarry of holm oaks, the views and the absolute inhospitability are spectacular. It was during this same period that another major influence came into Rene's life in the form of Sara Pérez, his current wife and partner. The daughter of José Luis Pérez, one of the most important figures in the Spanish wine world.
Together with Sara they have brought the Bellvisos vineyard back into production. It was an uncompromising place, but one that offered the chance to make a wine that was one with nature. They started this project based on their philosophy of life: a sustainable, organic project where they could close the circle of life. This fascinating place known as Bellvisos (Bella Vista - Beautiful View) is an extremely steep "coster" or sloping vineyard which, due to the structure of the Llicorella or slate soil, makes it impossible to build vineyard terraces. It was abandoned 40 years before herbicides and chemical pesticides were available so was already completely original organic and biological. There are no neighbors because of the steep slopes around it: not even the bravest would plant a vineyard here! As a result, the area has been in perfect balance for a long time.
Ten years ago they started pruning and the abandoned vines at Bellvisos were brought back into production. They use a mule and hand plowing alternated with cutting the weeds. We apply herbal tea and milk whey as fertilizer and constantly walk through the vines. All manual and aimed at maintaining balance between the freshness of the plot and the depth that is typical Priorat (that which makes the wines so unique). We decide when to harvest based on our taste buds and our intuition… according to a very personal criterion. We prepare each wine in the vineyard by reproducing the wild yeasts ourselves that will lead to a natural alcoholic fermentation, preserving the different aromas according to each vintage.
The Bellvisos and the Partida del Pedrer wines come from this great unique, authentic vineyard in the heart of the Priorat.