D.O. PRIORAT
The Priorat was known formerly by its wines of great oxidation and
alcoholic volume. This place is in the province of Tarragona, between mountains
of La Mola and El Montsant, two stone giants of more than
thousand meters of height. The first sight towards Tarragona and the second
towards the region of Les Garrigues (Lleida province).
In the Priorat zone we distinguished two historical stages. Firstly
and mainly the monks of Escala Dei (S.XII), they produced a wine of
high oxidation and high alcoholic degree. The second important stage is from
1974 where it begins to give priority to the quality and to the modernisation
of the production. Receiving an exhaustive report of the FAO where it summarised
that this zone had all the necessary qualities to be able to produce some
of the best wines of the world.
The wines from D.O. PRIORAT obtain their originality from the exclusive
zone where their vineyards are cultivated. When visiting any of the spaces
that form it, you can greatly appreciate the unevenness of the planted
vines, with stocks little developed and that show in their base the winding
step of the years. Closely together are planted young stocks in steps excavated
in the mountain can be observed, are the new terraces that replace the old
stone margins where the smoothed slopes prevented the ground erosion.
Most of these vineyards are planted in grounds that when looked at closely
are not earth, but large flat, greyish stones, which are called slate lamina
pieces "licorell", this slate juts out like a beautiful mosaic
in any cut in the mountain next to the highways or ways. These fine laminae
submerge vertically and by its cracks also they do the roots of the stocks,
looking for water and food several meters down into the rocks.
There is little water in the summer months. The depth of the roots allows
them to take advantage of these humid reserves that the strong summery heats
have evaporated. Even so the plant suffers, giving low production of grape,
but at the same time is of great quality and most years, excellent.
The traditional production of the zone, inherited of the learning of the centuries,
is characterised by one mature vintage, and is usually harvested in October.
A long fermentation allows the extraction of rich substances from the grapes
and a very complete maceration.
The characteristics of wines of D.O. PRIORAT are unique in the world.
The young red wines are of dense colour and at the same time very bright,
persistent aromas that enrich the taste buds, being fleshy, velvety and with
much body. The ageing oak wood , where the vintage is left, relaxes the
initial wine of its aggressiveness of youth, winning in a complexity that
only can be described by senses.
We also produce white wines but in less amounts. We start the virgin must
with a fermentation of low temperature, a perfect balance between its fruit
aromas is obtained, extended by the oak wood.
Wines of the Priorat share the wealth of the native varieties (Garnatxes
and Carinyena) with the new important varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot and Syrah). The special climatic characteristics and the surroundings
limit the wine production of this zone, making it rare and unique.
In our cellar of "Mas de Masos" estate we produce three varieties
of wine: Mas de Masos, Masos d’en Cubells and Enllaç.
When D.O. PRIORAT wines are tasted they cannot be forgotten. Their rich qualities last in the memory, giving tastes full of hidden treasures.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
C/Bassa, 9 - 43737 Torroja del Priorat
Tel.+34 977 839 495
crdopriorat@inicia.es
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
