Last weekend, I tasted an older
Clos Fontà 1999 at home.
I had some (minor) concern that the wine might be past its prime.
However, it was perfect!
Back in the day, this wine was a powerhouse—strength wrapped in a velvet glove.
But time has turned it into a
beautiful and elegant Priorat.
That bodes well for the next 10 to 20 years.
Since their first vintage in 1998, they have learned tremendously at the estate and,
most importantly, improved.
(Even the bottle and label now have a distinct à l’ancienne style…).
The current Clos Fontà is better than ever.
And this is largely thanks to the vision of the younger generation: Marta Rovira.
She strives for a perfect balance between power and elegance, searching with
relentless precision and, above all, respect for tradition for the best expression of the old vine
Garnatxa and
Carinyena.
Mas d’en Gil is one of the oldest wine estates in the region.
When the Rovira family acquired the estate in the late 1990s, it was still called “Masia Barril”;
they restored its original name: Mas d’en Gil, after its first owners.
Located in Bellmunt del Priorat, the lowest and often warmest part of Priorat, they manage 3 valleys, a significant portion of which consists of old vines—both white and red.
Their top wine,
Clos Fontà, is sourced from the
8 best parcels of old vines.
From some of the most impressive vineyards in Priorat!
We have just received their 2018 vintage, and that’s a great advantage.
The wine has already matured beautifully in the estate’s perfect aging cellars before we even open it.
And for me, this 2018 is one of their best ever. Moreover, it has undergone a very balanced élevage, first aging in 225-liter barrels,
followed by maturation in large foudres.
This is great classic Priorat, comme il faut.
A wine for your cellar and special occasions.