2022 Clos Mogador Manyetes Vi de Vila Gratallops
| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | |
| Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (15%) |
| Drink window | 2025 - 2040 |
In stock
37 items available
Description
The Rene Barbier Clos mogador Manyetes carries the "Vi de Villa Gratallops" on the label, because it is from Carinena vineyards in the village of Gratallops. The vineyard is located at almost 400 meters and is only 10Ha in size (of which only 3 Ha of vines) in the most inhospitable Priorat area. The Manyetes is a 100% Carignan which has been allowed to mature for 18 months in the best (new) European oak. The bright purple-colored Manyetes has a complex nose of wet slate, graphite and peat mixed with blueberry, violet and liquorice aromas in a very harmonious way. The taste is wonderfully rustic, with polished tannins, good acidity, pure flavors and a very long finish. It is made from the classic Priorat grape the Carignan from a very old vineyard. This is the brother of the better known Clos Mogador but this is mainly because only 1740 bottles were made (and of the 2020 only a few hundred bottles were bottled). But this brother of the Clos Mogador is so beautiful.
The different terroirs that exist within the Priorat wine appellation have led to the creation of a new "Village Wine - Gratallops". Just like in Burgundy, France and is a bit similar to Antinori with its Super Tuscans. Manyetes is the name of a vineyard in Gratallops: a daring undertaking where vines can barely survive given the poor soil in the region and the intense sunlight. The vines are literally surviving, but this is exactly what the main essence of Priorat wines is. Extremely low yields, a vine that has to root extremely deeply on the steep sloping slate slopes and this extraordinary vineyard in an extraordinary environment produces extraordinary wines. The 2020 was extreme as there was less than a barrel of fruit so in the end only a few hundred bottles were bottled (only 20% of the already small production of 1,400 bottles in an average year). Connoisseurs know it: low yield almost always means very high quality and that is no different with this Manyetes 2020. A collector's item and one for the cellar.
FACT: In the Tab: Attachment you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount.
René Barbier Meyer, Clos Mogador Winery Winemaker
An exceptionally different vintage. In the first week of the year, a heavy snowfall left a seasoning that lasted throughout the year with light rains every month. After a year of good rainfall that helped to maintain good reserves in the soil. The vegetation cover provided food and shelter for biodiversity, an ally in pest control. The high summer temperatures helped to keep vine diseases at bay. The vineyard arrived very full of vegetation, with 30% more grapes, allowing a good ripening that completely changed the concentration to which we were accustomed. The wines were able to achieve balance much more easily while maintaining good minerality and acidity, bringing freshness and elegance to all of them. The most abundant year in history. A vintage that reflects the weather more than the winemaker. René Barbier Meyer, Clos Mogador Winery Winemaker
Specifications
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Catalunya |
| Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
| Winery | Clos Mogador |
| Grape | Carignan |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 15 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| James Suckling rating | 93 |
| Vinous rating | 98 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Boers, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95+
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$100
Drink Date:
2025 - 2035
The 2022 Manyetes, their Cariñena from the lieu-dit in Gratallops that names the wine, fermented with 50% full clusters, 30% in a carbonic maceration way and the rest with a long, 40-day, maceration. It matured in 2,000-liter oak foudres for 20 months. It has contained ripeness and only 13.5% alcohol, lighter than expected with a medium-bodied palate. It's very difficult to work with cover crops here; it's their warmest vineyard, and they get very low yields. The part of the carbonic fermentation was harvested quite early and helped to keep the alcohol down and to retain freshness in the wine. It has aromas of graphite, dark berry fruit and an earthy touch, hints of smoked meats too, and a surprisingly light palate, only medium-bodied, with an ethereal quality to it but very energetic. It has the dusty texture of the Priorat schist. The oak is neatly integrated. None of the wines showed any oak, even though they are introducing new foudres to age their wines in larger-volume containers. 4,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024.
Clos Mogador is the winery from the Barbier family in Gratallops in Priorat, where they have 40 hectares of vineyards and produce 60,000 to 65,000 bottles of wine per year. In the last few years, they have had to be creative to be able to continue producing wines with energy and balance, given the challenging weather of recent years. They have started to use direct pressings, employ carbonic maceration of the grapes from south-facing plots or varieties more sensitive to drought, play with the blends to achieve more freshness and use less oxidative materials for the élevage.
This time, I tasted with Christian Barber, who has also started his own personal project (Christian Barber i Gisela, reviewed separately). He's in charge of the vineyards and explained the changes they've been implementing to adapt to the new climate conditions, such as using cover crops, harvesting earlier, working with more indigenous varieties, fermenting with some full clusters and some carbonic maceration, etc. He works in regenerative agriculture and has suffered a lot in the last couple of years because of the lack of rain. The vineyards are certified organic, and they also have a biodynamic certification from the Regenerative Viticulture Alliance, but for now, the bottles don't carry the seal. Yields have been abysmal for Clos Mogador in recent years: in 2023, they produced 50% of the normal volume, and in 2024, they produced half of what they produced in 2023! But the wines are as good as ever or even better!
Published: May 01, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Score
93
Avg Price (ex-tax)
$ 86
Clos Mogador Priorat Gratallops Manyetes 2022
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Color
Red
Country
Spain
Region
Cataluña
Vintage
2022
A ripe and meaty nose of roses, minerals and nice touches of dusty funk and graphite. Hints of game and raspberry compote as well. This is firm yet polished, with fine-grained tannins and a lengthy, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but should hold well for the next few years.
Zekun Shuai
Senior Editor
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2025 - 2040
From: From Revolution to Evolution: The Garnatxas and Cariñenas of Priorat & Montsant (Nov 2024)
There are some places in Priorat that can yield wines of exceptional flavor when bottled individually. This is the case with Paratge Manyetes in Gratallops, crafted by Clos Mogador as Manyetes. The 2021 Manyetes is 100% Cariñena, aged for up to 18 months in oak barrels, demijohns and stoneware jars. This purple-hued wine reveals enticing aromas of sour cherry and wild herbs, along with dusty, balsamic notes. Dry and chalky on the palate, it offers an intense, flavorful experience that lingers with a lean, vibrant and silky texture. This distinctive wine has a reductive character and a lasting, complex finish.
- By Joaquín Hidalgo on November 2024
Founded by René Barbier in 1979, Clos Mogador is one of the five famous wineries that reinvented Priorat in the 1990s. René Barbier Jr. now runs the daily operations, overseeing both oenology and viticulture. Possessing an excellent understanding of the extreme conditions in Priorat, Barbier Jr. focuses on Garnatxa and Cariñena, aiming to bring out the purest possible expression of the region and working to revive long-suffering vineyards, such as Manyetas, Almendros and the stunning Espectacle. Barbier doesn’t like fruitiness, equating it to “the ketchup of wine, ” but he produces vivid expressions of the regional terroir, imbued with the subtle, painstakingly polished textures that are his true love. A far cry from the concentrated styles of yesteryear, these wines have the strange magic one finds in Priorat: weightless concentration, complex, ripe expressions, freshness and a free-flowing spirit. As Barbier Jr. says, “In Priorat, we make wines of character. If you want elegance, go to Burgundy.”
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
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Wijnhuis
In the heart of Priorat, Clos Mogador grew into one of Spain’s most influential wineries, led by the Barbier family and their unique vision.
The history of Clos Mogador
Clos Mogador is inseparably linked to the revival of Priorat in the 1980s. Until then, the region was almost forgotten. Old terraces lay abandoned and production was small and local. René Barbier, from a Catalan-French winemaking family, saw potential here. Together with a small group of pioneers, he decided to plant vines on these rugged slate soils. It was a bold step, as the conditions were harsh and yields were low. Yet this proved to be the key to quality. Their joint wines gained international recognition in a short time and Priorat once again became a name in the wine world.
From the very beginning, Clos Mogador was one of the leading examples. While many other wine regions chose large-scale production, Barbier opted for small-scale, focused and distinctive winemaking. The first vintages were immediately a statement: this is wine with character, unwilling to compromise.
The Barbier family
The story of Clos Mogador is also a family story. René Barbier and his wife Isabel Meyer built the estate step by step, often with limited resources but always with vision. Their son, René Barbier Meyer, literally grew up among the barrels and has since become the driving force in the cellar. He combines the knowledge of his parents with a contemporary approach. His sister, Christian, and other family members are also involved. This makes Clos Mogador not an anonymous project, but a family estate where tradition and renewal go hand in hand.
What makes this family so interesting is the combination of Catalan determination and French finesse. Barbier senior brought his European background with him, but always felt deeply connected to Priorat and Catalan culture. That mix can be tasted in the wines: classic in structure, modern in energy.
About René Barbier
René Barbier Sr. was born in 1950 in Tarragona and is a direct descendant of French winemakers with roots going back to the 1200s. Like his ancestors, he has spent his entire life in the wine world. Trained at the most prestigious wine schools in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Limoux, he also worked in renowned wineries such as Moueix, the makers of Petrus.
René Barbier is considered the father of "Modern Priorat," an era that began in the late 1980s and crystallized in the "Clos" movement. He was the first to truly believe in the potential of the area to produce world-class wines. Barbier was a visionary who brought together a group of friends and motivated them to follow a dream, take on an adventure, and create a new lifestyle. This family winery, where two generations currently work side by side, was founded in 1979 in Gratallops. Their Clos Mogador is the symbol of a revolution, the pure expression of Priorat terroir, and one of the most respected wines in Spain.
The origins of this vineyard go back to Roman times. The vines benefit from an exceptional microclimate because they are surrounded by mountains reaching 1,200 meters above sea level. Clos Mogador is an immense amphitheater of crumbling slate (licorella), bathed by the Siurana River, rich in history and Moorish legends. René was born in 1950 in Tarragona and is a direct descendant of French winemakers whose roots go back to the 1200s. Like his ancestors, he has spent his whole life in wine. Trained in the most prestigious wine schools of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Limoux, he also worked in renowned wineries such as Moueix, the makers of Petrus. His reach in the wine world and experience extends from vineyards to wine marketing and especially to the part where his own wines are made. In 1979 he acquired his first vineyard in Priorat and began producing his first wine in the region: Clos Mogador. Later came Nelin, Manyetes and Espectacle del Montsant.
The location in Priorat
Gratallops, the village where Clos Mogador is located, forms the heart of Priorat. The landscape is spectacular and unforgiving: steep slopes, narrow terraces and winding rivers that cut through the region. The key element is the soil. The famous llicorella, a mix of dark slate and quartz, gives the wines their recognizable minerality and power. This soil forces the vines to root deeply in search of water and nutrients. The result: grapes with concentration and tension.
The climate in Priorat is dry and sunny, with hot summers. However, altitude differences and the cooling garbinada wind provide much-needed freshness. Nights are cool, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and retain their acidity. This contrast between heat and coolness gives the wines their balance.
Vineyards and grapes
Clos Mogador works with vineyards that vary in age and location. Some vines are over 80 years old and produce grapes of exceptional quality. The core varieties are Garnacha and Cariñena, typical of Priorat. In addition, they use Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for extra depth. The vineyards are spread across small plots that can only be worked by hand. Machines have no chance here; it is pure manual labor.
Organic and biodynamic principles play an increasingly important role. No pesticides, but natural solutions. No artificial fertilizers, but compost and green manures. Biodiversity is high, with olive trees, herbs and shrubs growing between the vines. This creates balance in the vineyard and healthy grapes that require little correction in the cellar.
The wines of Clos Mogador
The signature wine is Clos Mogador itself. This blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of the benchmarks of Priorat. It is known for its power, depth and longevity. Enthusiasts easily age the wine for ten to twenty years. Each vintage is different, but the style is recognizable: intense, complex and with a vibrant minerality from the llicorella soils.
In addition, the family makes several other wines:
- Manyetes: a pure expression of Cariñena from a special plot. Firm, dark and yet refined.
- Nelin: a white Priorat, made from Garnacha Blanca and other local grapes. Aging in wooden barrels and amphorae gives it depth and originality.
- Com Tu: a red wine from Montsant, produced by René Barbier junior and his wife. It is a tribute to diversity and equality, with an approachable style.
Each wine shows that Clos Mogador does not stand still. The estate continues to experiment, but always with respect for the origin and the identity of Priorat.
Interesting facts
- - Clos Mogador was one of the five original “Clos” that made Priorat internationally known in the 1980s.
- - The name Mogador refers to Essaouira in Morocco, a place where the Barbier family has fond memories.
- - In 2001, Clos Mogador was one of the first wines in Spain to receive the status “Vi de Finca Qualificada”: an official recognition for vineyards of exceptional quality.
- - The labels of Clos Mogador are designed by family members and friends, giving each vintage a personal touch.
- - The estate welcomes wine lovers from all over the world every year, b
The Rene Barbier Clos mogador Manyetes carries the "Vi de Villa Gratallops" on the label, because it is from Carinena vineyards in the village of Gratallops. The vineyard is located at almost 400 meters and is only 10Ha in size (of which only 3 Ha of vines) in the most inhospitable Priorat area. The Manyetes is a 100% Carignan which has been allowed to mature for 18 months in the best (new) European oak. The bright purple-colored Manyetes has a complex nose of wet slate, graphite and peat mixed with blueberry, violet and liquorice aromas in a very harmonious way. The taste is wonderfully rustic, with polished tannins, good acidity, pure flavors and a very long finish. It is made from the classic Priorat grape the Carignan from a very old vineyard. This is the brother of the better known Clos Mogador but this is mainly because only 1740 bottles were made (and of the 2020 only a few hundred bottles were bottled). But this brother of the Clos Mogador is so beautiful.
The different terroirs that exist within the Priorat wine appellation have led to the creation of a new "Village Wine - Gratallops". Just like in Burgundy, France and is a bit similar to Antinori with its Super Tuscans. Manyetes is the name of a vineyard in Gratallops: a daring undertaking where vines can barely survive given the poor soil in the region and the intense sunlight. The vines are literally surviving, but this is exactly what the main essence of Priorat wines is. Extremely low yields, a vine that has to root extremely deeply on the steep sloping slate slopes and this extraordinary vineyard in an extraordinary environment produces extraordinary wines. The 2020 was extreme as there was less than a barrel of fruit so in the end only a few hundred bottles were bottled (only 20% of the already small production of 1,400 bottles in an average year). Connoisseurs know it: low yield almost always means very high quality and that is no different with this Manyetes 2020. A collector's item and one for the cellar.
FACT: In the Tab: Attachment you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount.
René Barbier Meyer, Clos Mogador Winery Winemaker
An exceptionally different vintage. In the first week of the year, a heavy snowfall left a seasoning that lasted throughout the year with light rains every month. After a year of good rainfall that helped to maintain good reserves in the soil. The vegetation cover provided food and shelter for biodiversity, an ally in pest control. The high summer temperatures helped to keep vine diseases at bay. The vineyard arrived very full of vegetation, with 30% more grapes, allowing a good ripening that completely changed the concentration to which we were accustomed. The wines were able to achieve balance much more easily while maintaining good minerality and acidity, bringing freshness and elegance to all of them. The most abundant year in history. A vintage that reflects the weather more than the winemaker. René Barbier Meyer, Clos Mogador Winery Winemaker
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Catalunya |
| Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
| Winery | Clos Mogador |
| Grape | Carignan |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 15 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| James Suckling rating | 93 |
| Vinous rating | 98 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Boers, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95+
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$100
Drink Date:
2025 - 2035
The 2022 Manyetes, their Cariñena from the lieu-dit in Gratallops that names the wine, fermented with 50% full clusters, 30% in a carbonic maceration way and the rest with a long, 40-day, maceration. It matured in 2,000-liter oak foudres for 20 months. It has contained ripeness and only 13.5% alcohol, lighter than expected with a medium-bodied palate. It's very difficult to work with cover crops here; it's their warmest vineyard, and they get very low yields. The part of the carbonic fermentation was harvested quite early and helped to keep the alcohol down and to retain freshness in the wine. It has aromas of graphite, dark berry fruit and an earthy touch, hints of smoked meats too, and a surprisingly light palate, only medium-bodied, with an ethereal quality to it but very energetic. It has the dusty texture of the Priorat schist. The oak is neatly integrated. None of the wines showed any oak, even though they are introducing new foudres to age their wines in larger-volume containers. 4,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024.
Clos Mogador is the winery from the Barbier family in Gratallops in Priorat, where they have 40 hectares of vineyards and produce 60,000 to 65,000 bottles of wine per year. In the last few years, they have had to be creative to be able to continue producing wines with energy and balance, given the challenging weather of recent years. They have started to use direct pressings, employ carbonic maceration of the grapes from south-facing plots or varieties more sensitive to drought, play with the blends to achieve more freshness and use less oxidative materials for the élevage.
This time, I tasted with Christian Barber, who has also started his own personal project (Christian Barber i Gisela, reviewed separately). He's in charge of the vineyards and explained the changes they've been implementing to adapt to the new climate conditions, such as using cover crops, harvesting earlier, working with more indigenous varieties, fermenting with some full clusters and some carbonic maceration, etc. He works in regenerative agriculture and has suffered a lot in the last couple of years because of the lack of rain. The vineyards are certified organic, and they also have a biodynamic certification from the Regenerative Viticulture Alliance, but for now, the bottles don't carry the seal. Yields have been abysmal for Clos Mogador in recent years: in 2023, they produced 50% of the normal volume, and in 2024, they produced half of what they produced in 2023! But the wines are as good as ever or even better!
Published: May 01, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Score
93
Avg Price (ex-tax)
$ 86
Clos Mogador Priorat Gratallops Manyetes 2022
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Color
Red
Country
Spain
Region
Cataluña
Vintage
2022
A ripe and meaty nose of roses, minerals and nice touches of dusty funk and graphite. Hints of game and raspberry compote as well. This is firm yet polished, with fine-grained tannins and a lengthy, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but should hold well for the next few years.
Zekun Shuai
Senior Editor
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2025 - 2040
From: From Revolution to Evolution: The Garnatxas and Cariñenas of Priorat & Montsant (Nov 2024)
There are some places in Priorat that can yield wines of exceptional flavor when bottled individually. This is the case with Paratge Manyetes in Gratallops, crafted by Clos Mogador as Manyetes. The 2021 Manyetes is 100% Cariñena, aged for up to 18 months in oak barrels, demijohns and stoneware jars. This purple-hued wine reveals enticing aromas of sour cherry and wild herbs, along with dusty, balsamic notes. Dry and chalky on the palate, it offers an intense, flavorful experience that lingers with a lean, vibrant and silky texture. This distinctive wine has a reductive character and a lasting, complex finish.
- By Joaquín Hidalgo on November 2024
Founded by René Barbier in 1979, Clos Mogador is one of the five famous wineries that reinvented Priorat in the 1990s. René Barbier Jr. now runs the daily operations, overseeing both oenology and viticulture. Possessing an excellent understanding of the extreme conditions in Priorat, Barbier Jr. focuses on Garnatxa and Cariñena, aiming to bring out the purest possible expression of the region and working to revive long-suffering vineyards, such as Manyetas, Almendros and the stunning Espectacle. Barbier doesn’t like fruitiness, equating it to “the ketchup of wine, ” but he produces vivid expressions of the regional terroir, imbued with the subtle, painstakingly polished textures that are his true love. A far cry from the concentrated styles of yesteryear, these wines have the strange magic one finds in Priorat: weightless concentration, complex, ripe expressions, freshness and a free-flowing spirit. As Barbier Jr. says, “In Priorat, we make wines of character. If you want elegance, go to Burgundy.”
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
In the heart of Priorat, Clos Mogador grew into one of Spain’s most influential wineries, led by the Barbier family and their unique vision.
The history of Clos Mogador
Clos Mogador is inseparably linked to the revival of Priorat in the 1980s. Until then, the region was almost forgotten. Old terraces lay abandoned and production was small and local. René Barbier, from a Catalan-French winemaking family, saw potential here. Together with a small group of pioneers, he decided to plant vines on these rugged slate soils. It was a bold step, as the conditions were harsh and yields were low. Yet this proved to be the key to quality. Their joint wines gained international recognition in a short time and Priorat once again became a name in the wine world.
From the very beginning, Clos Mogador was one of the leading examples. While many other wine regions chose large-scale production, Barbier opted for small-scale, focused and distinctive winemaking. The first vintages were immediately a statement: this is wine with character, unwilling to compromise.
The Barbier family
The story of Clos Mogador is also a family story. René Barbier and his wife Isabel Meyer built the estate step by step, often with limited resources but always with vision. Their son, René Barbier Meyer, literally grew up among the barrels and has since become the driving force in the cellar. He combines the knowledge of his parents with a contemporary approach. His sister, Christian, and other family members are also involved. This makes Clos Mogador not an anonymous project, but a family estate where tradition and renewal go hand in hand.
What makes this family so interesting is the combination of Catalan determination and French finesse. Barbier senior brought his European background with him, but always felt deeply connected to Priorat and Catalan culture. That mix can be tasted in the wines: classic in structure, modern in energy.
About René Barbier
René Barbier Sr. was born in 1950 in Tarragona and is a direct descendant of French winemakers with roots going back to the 1200s. Like his ancestors, he has spent his entire life in the wine world. Trained at the most prestigious wine schools in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Limoux, he also worked in renowned wineries such as Moueix, the makers of Petrus.
René Barbier is considered the father of "Modern Priorat," an era that began in the late 1980s and crystallized in the "Clos" movement. He was the first to truly believe in the potential of the area to produce world-class wines. Barbier was a visionary who brought together a group of friends and motivated them to follow a dream, take on an adventure, and create a new lifestyle. This family winery, where two generations currently work side by side, was founded in 1979 in Gratallops. Their Clos Mogador is the symbol of a revolution, the pure expression of Priorat terroir, and one of the most respected wines in Spain.
The origins of this vineyard go back to Roman times. The vines benefit from an exceptional microclimate because they are surrounded by mountains reaching 1,200 meters above sea level. Clos Mogador is an immense amphitheater of crumbling slate (licorella), bathed by the Siurana River, rich in history and Moorish legends. René was born in 1950 in Tarragona and is a direct descendant of French winemakers whose roots go back to the 1200s. Like his ancestors, he has spent his whole life in wine. Trained in the most prestigious wine schools of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Limoux, he also worked in renowned wineries such as Moueix, the makers of Petrus. His reach in the wine world and experience extends from vineyards to wine marketing and especially to the part where his own wines are made. In 1979 he acquired his first vineyard in Priorat and began producing his first wine in the region: Clos Mogador. Later came Nelin, Manyetes and Espectacle del Montsant.
The location in Priorat
Gratallops, the village where Clos Mogador is located, forms the heart of Priorat. The landscape is spectacular and unforgiving: steep slopes, narrow terraces and winding rivers that cut through the region. The key element is the soil. The famous llicorella, a mix of dark slate and quartz, gives the wines their recognizable minerality and power. This soil forces the vines to root deeply in search of water and nutrients. The result: grapes with concentration and tension.
The climate in Priorat is dry and sunny, with hot summers. However, altitude differences and the cooling garbinada wind provide much-needed freshness. Nights are cool, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and retain their acidity. This contrast between heat and coolness gives the wines their balance.
Vineyards and grapes
Clos Mogador works with vineyards that vary in age and location. Some vines are over 80 years old and produce grapes of exceptional quality. The core varieties are Garnacha and Cariñena, typical of Priorat. In addition, they use Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for extra depth. The vineyards are spread across small plots that can only be worked by hand. Machines have no chance here; it is pure manual labor.
Organic and biodynamic principles play an increasingly important role. No pesticides, but natural solutions. No artificial fertilizers, but compost and green manures. Biodiversity is high, with olive trees, herbs and shrubs growing between the vines. This creates balance in the vineyard and healthy grapes that require little correction in the cellar.
The wines of Clos Mogador
The signature wine is Clos Mogador itself. This blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of the benchmarks of Priorat. It is known for its power, depth and longevity. Enthusiasts easily age the wine for ten to twenty years. Each vintage is different, but the style is recognizable: intense, complex and with a vibrant minerality from the llicorella soils.
In addition, the family makes several other wines:
- Manyetes: a pure expression of Cariñena from a special plot. Firm, dark and yet refined.
- Nelin: a white Priorat, made from Garnacha Blanca and other local grapes. Aging in wooden barrels and amphorae gives it depth and originality.
- Com Tu: a red wine from Montsant, produced by René Barbier junior and his wife. It is a tribute to diversity and equality, with an approachable style.
Each wine shows that Clos Mogador does not stand still. The estate continues to experiment, but always with respect for the origin and the identity of Priorat.
Interesting facts
- - Clos Mogador was one of the five original “Clos” that made Priorat internationally known in the 1980s.
- - The name Mogador refers to Essaouira in Morocco, a place where the Barbier family has fond memories.
- - In 2001, Clos Mogador was one of the first wines in Spain to receive the status “Vi de Finca Qualificada”: an official recognition for vineyards of exceptional quality.
- - The labels of Clos Mogador are designed by family members and friends, giving each vintage a personal touch.
- - The estate welcomes wine lovers from all over the world every year, b