Description
Terroir al Limit Historic Red Priorat 2021 is now in the warehouse. The interesting change of note is that this vintage was aged in stainless steel tanks. Previous vintages like the 2018 were aged in concrete tanks, both designed to allow the purity of fruit to reveal itself. Perhaps it is this change that makes the 2021 vintage the purest expression of red Grenache or Garnacha, albeit as always there is some Carignan or Cariñena mixed in as well. Priorat seems to be the up-and-coming wine region for unoaked Garnacha and Terroir al Límit Historic Red Priorat 2021 is up there as one of the finest examples.
As with the 2018, Terroir al Límit Historic Red Priorat 2021 is a delicious unoaked red wine dominated by fruit flavours. Whole bunches of grapes are left for 10 days before they are pressed which also contributes to the intensity of the fruit. Flavours include red cherries and fresh red berries like red currants and raspberries; there is also some peppery spice and liquorice notes on the nose and on the palate. Leaving the grapes as bunches has the added advantage of creating an oxygen-free environment which means that alcohol is created inside the grapes and no added yeasts are needed for the fermentation. In this vintage alcohol is slightly lower but is balanced well with the crunchy fruit flavours, fresh acidity and tannins. The non-invasive winemaking continues post-fermentation and contributes to this very smooth and easy-to-drink style of wine which will keep developing in the bottle for some time yet.
Priorat wines have the same DOCa status as Rioja wines (DOQ being the Catalan equivalent) but are generally less well-known than Rioja; in fact they are the only two Spanish wines at this highest qualification level. Terroir Al Limit was only set up in 2001 but old vines of Grenache and Carignan respond well to organic farming (certified organic) and biodynamic practices producing better quality and more intensely flavoured grapes which are produced using traditional wine-making techniques inspired by Burgundy into superb wine.