Terroir Mas d'en Gil
Mas d’en Gil is a single estate covering 125 hectares, more than half of which is forested. Olive trees are visually present throughout the property, alongside almond, hazelnut, and various fruit trees.
The estate is located at 350 metres above sea level and is often referred to as the “southern balcony” of Priorat.
As of today, 35 hectares are planted, spread across 53 individual plots.
It was Pere Rovira who introduced viognier, merlot, cabernet, and syrah to the estate.
The younger generation – led by Marta Rovira – now focuses on local grape varieties typical of the village and the region.
Bellmunt del Priorat is known as a grenache village, with many old grenache vines still thriving.
Mas d’en Gil boasts a wealth of old vines, particularly red and white grenache, carinyena, and macabeu.
As early as the Barril family era, a conscious decision was made not to plant on south-facing slopes, in order to protect the grapes from heat – a practice continued by the Rovira family.
The old grenache and macabeu vines, often 80 to 90 years old, are used for massal selection replanting near the original plots.
There is a constant search for balance between honouring the heritage of these old vines and introducing younger vines that bring freshness and energy to the wines.
Since the late 2000s, new plantings of white and red grenache, carignan, and macabeu have been established.
Merlot, cabernet, and syrah have gradually been replaced by young grenache vines, now forming the core of the estate’s production.
Garnatxa, particularly from old vines, forms the base of the red wines, complemented by carignan.
The white wines are based on white grenache and macabeu, with a touch of viognier (planted some 25 years ago) used in the Bellmunt Blanc blend.
While Priorat is famously associated with slate-based soils – and rightfully so – Mas d’en Gil also features zones of sandstone, sand, and limestone.
This soil profile stretches from Bellmunt del Priorat to El Lloar, along the southwestern flank of the Sierra de Montsant.
The Garbinada sea breeze and the Cercs winds from the northwest play a key climatic role at Mas d’en Gil, one of the southernmost estates in Priorat, right at the border with the Montsant appellation.
The estate’s orientation makes it especially exposed to the afternoon winds that sweep across the vineyards.