Costers del Priorat Clos Alzina Priorat DOQ – 2021

Made from 100% Carignan grapes from a single, north-facing vineyard planted on slate soils in 1939.

This deeply flavoured, full bodied red has aromas of violets and lilacs and intense, concentrated flavours of ripe raspberry fruit and gentle spices. Despite its power, it has wonderful elegance, finesse and freshness. The tannins are fine and silky and very subtle oaky vanillins and spices add complexity. A truly impressive wine which absolutely justifies its price. 14.5% alcohol.

This would be perfect served with rich game dishes or truffle flavoured pasta or risotto.

126 cases were produced. Drink 2025 – 2032

“Costers” are the essence of the Priorat wine region. They are the region’s oldest vineyards planted on dizzily steep slopes of slate soil. This fantastic, under the radar winery was founded in 2002 by four partners. Jose Mas, a talented Master of Wine student, has been responsible for viticulture and winemaking since the start. They now own ancient plots of vines in eight of the twelve different subregions of Priorat. Their beautiful, atmospheric winery used to be an old monastery.

Clos Alzina is a single, north-facing vineyard of 100% Carignan grapes which was planted in 1939. The slate slopes here are so steep that even the local mules refuse to work on the vineyard! And the vines are so old that they only produce 65ml of wine per vine – just enough for a few short sips. You have to be a passionate believer in Priorat and Carignan to work with these crazy-low yields as it is very difficult to make a profit here!