Cal Batllet-Marc Ripoll, Gratallops Escanyavella, DOQ Priorat, Spain, 2021

Producer Profile

Marc Ripoll returned to his family’s vineyards in the village of Gratallops to find that they had been reduced to selling their harvests to the local co-operative.

He immediately set about renovating the dilapidated winery, and since built Cal Batllet into one of the region’s most highly regarded estates. Marc is one of a new generation of winemakers in Priorat who are intent on reclaiming the region for their own, focusing on a style that puts the local terroir at its heart and light-years away from the full-bodied blockbusters that once wowed the American critics. An organic approach to viticulture and the use of wild yeasts and barrel fermentation in the winery all come together to create wines that uniquely express the sites they come from – and none more so than the 90-year-old bush vines of the near-extinct Escanyavella grape, which translates from Catalan as ‘old lady strangler’!

Viticulture

These ancient bush vines are planted on the steep ‘licorella’ soils. The nearly extinct Escanyavella grapes are harvested by hand, usually in late September from the estates organically cultivated vineyards (although not certified). Naturally high in acidity, they strive to harness this freshness whilst making a wine of incomparable texture and character.

Winemaking

Fermentation takes place in a porous egg vessel at a low temperature and is then aged on the lees for 6 months in order to enhance the mouthfeel. A wine with huge ageing potential but be warned, production is limited to less than 150 cases per vintage!

Tasting Note

One of the very few, if not the only producer to make a white wine from 100% Escanyavella! Immense personality and aromatic intensity; white flowers, ripe fruit with touches of citrus and herbs, mineral, broad on the palate with a beautiful linear acidity and immense length. A truly special wine to savour.

Food Matching

This unique wine is best enjoyed with simple foods, rice dishes, or bread and cheese to fully appreciate the flavours.