Planetes "Classic" 2019

A Priorat that doesn't flaunt its power. Its 14.5% ABV is met by acidity and tannin that still feel youthful, keeping the wine in motion rather than weighing it down.

The vines stand in the climate zone of Porrera, on terraces of llicorella, the black slate of Priorat. Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz farm steep plots there up to 700 metres in altitude, too steep for tractors: ploughing is done with mules, something no one in Porrera had done since the 1960s.

Garnacha from 22-year-old terraced vines and Carignan from 13-year-old vines, harvested at a minimal yield of 16 hectolitres per hectare. The whole grapes macerate for four weeks, then the wine ferments spontaneously with wild yeasts in three French oak barrels of 3,200 litres each. This is followed by 18 months' maturation in two of these barrels and in a 1,000-litre amphora. 9,975 bottles were filled.

Dark fruit spreads broadly across the tongue: black cherries, macerated dark berries and plum compote, followed by wild Mediterranean herbs, pepper, clove and cardamom, along with dark chocolate. The wine drinks well lightly chilled alongside rich, aromatic cuisine.

Rack of lamb with glazed bacon beans, duck with an oriental spice crust and couscous with raisins, or, for a vegetarian option, a salsify and eggplant gratin with rosemary jus.

Every cork from Familia Nin Ortiz reads "Biodynamic since day one". The estate is one of the few Spanish wineries in La Renaissance des Appellations, the association founded by Nicolas Joly. The wine is aged without fining or filtration.