Strong women make powerful wines!
The two strong women are Mari-Carmen and Pilar, mother and daughter. Mari-Carmen, the mother, is the pioneer of the small Terra Alta appellation.
This is the southernmost wine region of Catalunya, just beyond the Ebro. It is a beautiful, slightly mystical landscape, which in some places has more in common with inland southern Aragón (Teruel) than with the Mediterranean part of Catalunya. And the grape variety we are talking about here, the one they brought back to the forefront more than 30 years ago, is Garnatxa Blanca.
It grows on a loess soil: fine sandy soils, originally silicon sediment in a calcareous environment (what we would also call Limburg clay. Loess is an aeolian deposit, formed by the wind, of silt or loam).
They call themselves “craftswomen”, because almost all the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is done entirely by hand. Since 2008, they have been working fully organically, with respect for their landscape and tradition. They call this “agro-ecology”, because they go much further than ordinary organic viticulture. They seek balance with the landscape, make their own compost and focus on biodiversity in their vineyards.
I have two favourite wines from this estate.
Today, with the warmer weather on its way, I think it is time to talk about their top white wine. I call it a “power wine” made by two “powerwomen”: El Quintà.
Since the end of last year, we have had the 2022 vintage in stock.
Made from 100% Garnatxa Blanca, with very low yields from two higher-altitude vineyards, “El Grau” and “La Cometa”, between 450 and 600 m above sea level. In total, this is just under 4 ha, from which they make around 4000 bottles.
Very low yields indeed!
This is one of our best-ageing Garnatxa Blancas!
Thanks to the limited skin maceration, you get the typical white tannins, but very nicely balanced. Combined with plenty of volume, power and length. What a powerhouse! But at the same time, what finesse and elegance with age: a beautiful colour evolution at the start, perfectly in evolution.
Beautiful with veal or Mediterranean grilled fish. Simply delicious… I am a big fan!
A few years ago, I visited them at home and tasted El Quintà in a vertical. What a surprise. We tasted all the way back to 2007! And although the colour was already quite dark, the mouthfeel was still both firm and elegant, with a Mediterranean freshness that is truly unique. Dry at first, but finishing beautifully with honey and buttery herbal notes. Great stuff!
R. Parker also tasted that it was good: 92/100
“The tasty white 2022 El Quintà was produced with Garnacha Blanca grapes that fermented and matured in 500- and 600-liter oak barrels for eight months. It's varietal with notes of waxy apples and white flowers plus a spicy twist. It's round and has volume, ripeness and 14% alcohol, with a soft texture and a dry finish. Bàrbara Forés, one of the pioneers in Terra Alta, has all the vineyards and wines certified organic. Bàrbara Forés is a family winery with a long tradition, with roots that can be traced back to 1898. All of the vineyards, over 40 hectares, and wines are certified organic. They produce an average of 60,000 bottles. Like all the rest, they have experienced warm vintages in recent years, which reinforced their commitment to local varieties, focusing on plant material native to the area, those best-adapted to the place and to their way of working organically, with cover crops and in an artisanal way.“