2023 Mas Martinet Verge de Martinet

"Stairway to Heaven," the iconic song by Led Zeppelin, the band that marked a turning point in rock history, tells us about the constant search for something beyond the material, that yearning to reach the sublime that invites us to soar into the unknown. And with this same sense of transcendence, Mas Martinet presents their Verge de Martinet wine. A wine that, like the song, invites us on a journey to the exceptional, under a label that depicts a stairway to heaven, the most extraordinary. Why? Because it is a groundbreaking, unique wine, resulting from the revival of an ancient winemaking method called "vi verge." It is a traditional style from the Priorat region that had fallen into oblivion and is now, thanks to the vision of Sara Pérez and her team, being revived with the same passion for authenticity.

The Martinet Verge de Martinet is a wine that aims to rediscover an ancient vinification process: making wine from red grapes without maceration (maceración). This type of wine was once called this because of its specific production process. Although this method is very traditional, it produces a wine with an intense rosé character, almost like a light red wine. So, what is it exactly: a red or a rosé wine? According to the letter of the law, it's a rosé, and that's what Sara Perez calls it. The wine is a blend of

- 50% Garnacha Tinta (Grenache noir)
- 25% Garnacha Gris (grey Grenache)
- 25% Cariñena (Carignan)

The vineyards are situated on Llicorella – the characteristic black slate soil of Priorat, which contributes to the wine's minerality and concentration. Only 1,204 bottles were produced from this vintage.

2023 was one of the driest years of the past 40 to 50 years, on top of an already extremely dry 2022. This led to a severe water shortage in the vineyards. Temperatures were certainly not extremely warm until harvest. Many vines had only 20 cm of shoot growth at flowering – a sign of stress and limited vigor. As a result, many vines did not survive the prolonged drought and died, resulting in a 50% lower harvest than normal.

2023 seemed like a lost harvest in advance. But… Sare Perez is now known as an expert in water management (see also a recent article in Perswijn in which she spoke in Davos about the challenges in the Priorat region, among others, due to the drought). To better understand the vital state of the plants, sensitive crystallization techniques were used (a biodynamic method for "reading" the energy of plants). Surprisingly, the plants proved to be energetically stable and conserved their energy for the following year. Despite the low yield, the 2023 grapes were not stressed, but rather full of pure, concentrated energy. This is where the advantage of working with indigenous grapes and old vineyards comes to the fore. The grapes were harvested by hand and lightly crushed for several hours in medium-height chestnut barrels before being pressed directly, without skin maceration. The gentle foot pressing produces a deep color and structure, almost like a light red wine. Fermentation and aging took place in 1200-liter foudres (large wooden barrels) and glass damajuanas (large round bottles). The wine then aged for seven months on its lees in the same barrels.

The Martinet Verge de Martinet is radiant and warm with energy. It exudes generosity and inner strength. Despite all the setbacks, it's an intense vintage, showing no signs of stress or exhaustion. Against all odds, 2023 is considered one of the best years yet, a vintage for the connoisseur – a wine for those seeking depth.

FACT: In the "Attachments" tab, you'll find the official fact sheet for this fine wine. We'll automatically send it to you when you order it. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pickup" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht with ample parking. Click here for our address.

ABOUT MAS MARTINET

In 1981, Mas Martinet was born, a lifelong project and a dream come true. The brand is the result of the passion of Josep Lluís Pérez and Montse Ovejero and is now owned by the entire family: Josep Lluís, Montse, Sara, Núria, Adrià, Marc, Jordi, Armando, and Pilar. The unique wines of Mas Martinet in Priorat have enormous aging potential. For over 25 years, Martinet has reigned at the top of the Priorat appellation. In recent years, father Pérez has retired from Mas Martinet, and the wines are now vinified by Sara Pérez (see also Venus, Dido, and Gratallops). Sara is also the wife of another icon, René Barbier Jr., known for Clos Mogador, and René and Sara also make wines under their own names, Sara Pérez y René Barbier. Naturally, we also carry these wines. Read more under the tab: Winery