349/365 – Catalonia – DOQ Priorat – Torroja del Priorat – Celler Aixalà i Alcait – Destrankis 2012
Superfly……..,
Destrankis 2012, 80% Garnacha and 20% Cariñena
Bright red cherry color with violet tones, middle layer. The nose is full of fruit, light touches of menthol, green leaves and pine. Good combination of fresh red fruit, herbs, thyme, rosemary and mineral notes. The palate shows some minerality. This is a fresh and balanced wine. Licorice, balsamic and butter, with a slight touch of camphor. The palate is light but persistent, with a subtle mineral background showing where it comes from. If you like Grenache, this is a wine for you!
The grapes come from two farms owned by the Aixalà family and their small family cellar is located in the village of Torroja del Priorat. The cultivation of the vines is done through sustainable viticulture, without herbicides or pesticides, while respecting traditional or biodynamic principles. The wine has been aged for 9 months in new and almost new barrels of French and American oak, followed by 6 months in bottle. 4000 bottles were produced.
The Aixalà i Alcait is a small wine cellar, a micro bodega would be the correct description, in the sense of vineyard size, yield and bottles produced. They make well defined wines and considering that the work is done by mule, as that is the only way to access the vineyards, and grapes are being hand harvested, the price for their wine is very very reasonable. The main challenge is to make sure that their level of English is at par, as most of their production is sold outside the country. Aixalà and Alcait are trying to, as far as it is possible, work with organic principles, respecting nature and tradition and making sure they express the personality of the terroir.
Currently, they produce four labels, Pardelasses, Destrankis, El Coster de l’Alzina and Les Clivelles de Torroja. You have to get your hand on at least one of these! Superfly wines!
38 to go!
Catalan wine in a nutshell! 