Trossos Vells 2019

Wine description for Trossos Vells 2019 by Alfredo Arribas

Colour & appearance

Sparkling, dark cherry red – profound yet vibrant in the glass.

Nose

A wine that does not hide itself: blackberry, sour cherry, cassis and elderberries provide dark fruit that feels remarkably cool. Beneath, rosehip and beetroot serve as earthy counterpoints, complemented by rooibos tea for added depth. A hint of coconut alongside black pepper, then black olive and rosemary – Mediterranean, yet never heavy. The slightly animal notes, signs of Brett, integrate surprisingly well and lend definition to the whole.

Palate

Here the architect’s signature reveals itself: dense yet polished. The fruit is juicy, never opulent – taut, tart, almost bloody in its intensity. The tannins are delicate and integrated, almost ethereal. Cool, stony attributes shape the texture, with minerality and acidity interlocking like cogwheels. A wine of finesse and drinkability that, despite all its complexity, never becomes taxing.

Finish

Long and multi-layered: the berry fruit gradually takes on a salty component, joined by red fruit tea. The aftertaste is precise and cool, with an almost austere elegance.

Terroir & origin

The vines are located in El Masroig in southern Montsant, where sandy and clay soils yield a different texture from the slate of Priorat. Many of the Carignan vines are nearly one hundred years old, ungrafted, rooted in poor ground. Alfredo Arribas cultivates over 80 hectares between Montsant and Priorat – here, in the south, he produces a wine of surprising freshness despite the arid region.

Grape variety & vinification

Carignan from old vines, handled with the restraint Arribas learned as an architect: native yeasts, short maceration, minimal sulphur. Less intervention, greater attention – the result is a wine that displays structure without heaviness, intense aromas at a moderate 14% alcohol.

Food recommendations

Grilled entrecôte with roasted peppers and chimichurri – the herbal spice of the chimichurri mirrors the Mediterranean notes. Pan-seared red mullet with beetroot and walnut salad – the earthy sweetness of the beetroot finds its echo in the wine. Caramelised carrots with ras el hanout and quinoa – the spicy depth of the carrots meets the dark fruit.

Special characteristics

A Carignan that privileges freshness and finesse over concentration – in a region often known for monumental wines. The combination of old vine material and deliberate restraint in the cellar yields a wine of rare presence: complex yet never loud, profound yet eminently drinkable.