Priorat & Montsant · Spanien
Trossos del Priorat
Eight plots, eight stories – for “Trossos” means nothing other than “pieces” in Catalan. Trossos del Priorat is a family project of the Vives family, founded in 2003 in the heart of the Priorat in Gratallops. Oenologist Eva Escudé is regarded as the soul of the estate. Her philosophy: it is the quality of the grape that decides, not the hand of the cellar master. On 21 hectares of llicorella slate, Grenache and Carignan grow, their roots forced deep into the poor soil in search of water – yielding wines of concentration and mineral elegance.
Eight trossos, one terroir
What makes a Priorat wine can be felt with your own hands at Trossos del Priorat: llicorella, the region's characteristic slate, crumbles into glittering flakes when you touch it. This soil offers hardly any nutrients, but it stores heat during the day and releases it to the vines at night. The 21 hectares of organically farmed vineyards are spread over eight parcels around Gratallops, each with its own microclimate and its own history. Grenache and Carignan, the classic Priorat varieties, are complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah for depth and structure. There is also white wine from Grenache Blanc, Macabeo and Viognier.
The signature of Eva Escudé
When Eva Escudé talks about wine, it is never about technique. "One of the biggest mistakes is to attach too much importance to the oenologist," she says. "The most important thing is to have outstanding grapes." This attitude shapes every wine of the house, from 90 minuts, whose name alludes to the drive from Barcelona, to Lo Món, the flagship from old Grenache and Carignan vines. Eva Escudé combines concentration with freshness and power with elegance: wines that show the Priorat without caricaturing it. Her work is also valued at Clos Erasmus, the legendary neighbouring estate.