An elegant red wine cuvée of Grenache and Pinot Noir: fresh red berries, fine minerality and silky tannins reveal the lighter-footed, cool-mineral side of Priorat.
Bottler: Portal del Priorat, C. de la Font n. 9, 43737 Gratallops / Spain
In the glass
Colour
Cherry red
Nose
An inviting bouquet of fresh red berries accompanied by earthy minerality – precise, vibrant and seductive
Palate
Silky-soft tannins, juicy and subtly spiced with first-class balance and tension; the mineral-fresh finish invites the next sip
Character
Lithe power rather than weight – no lightweight, yet lighter than many Priorat reds; drinking pleasure and finesse go hand in hand
Pairing
Aubergine stew, lamb dishes of all kinds, as well as mushroom sautés or spicy tapas
Notes
An unusual cuvée of Grenache and the cool-climate variety Pinot Noir, which thrives on limestone soils in the higher, cooler reaches of Priorat at the foot of the Montsant mountains; biodynamic farming and maturation in large wooden casks lend the wine its distinctive, fresh style
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Bright cherry red, clear and with a youthful sheen – a visual promise of the freshness this wine delivers.
Nose
Inviting and distinctive: fresh red berries such as cherry and raspberry, underpinned by an earthy minerality reminiscent of Priorat’s slate soils. The aromatic profile is precise, vibrant and alluring – without any hint of heaviness.
Palate
Silky-smooth tannins, succulent fruit and a subtly spiced, elegant character. First-class balance and tension: by no means lightweight, yet noticeably more slender than most of the region’s reds. Lo Noir embodies what Alfredo Arribas seeks in Priorat – lithe power rather than overripe muscle, a moderate 14 per cent alcohol instead of a burning sensation.
Finish
A juicy, mineral freshness that immediately invites the next sip. Drinking pleasure and finesse go hand in hand here.
Terroir & origin
The estate of El Mas de l’A, a project launched in 2018 by Portal del Priorat, lies at the foot of the Montsant mountains in the higher, cooler part of Priorat. On these limestone soils, even the cool-climate Pinot Noir thrives – a rarity in Mediterranean Catalonia. Behind it stands former architect Alfredo Arribas, who has been drawing out Priorat’s elegant side since 2001.
Grape varieties & vinification
A cuvée of Garnacha as the principal variety, complemented by a smaller proportion of Pinot Noir. The vineyard sites are farmed biodynamically, and the wine was aged in large-format wooden casks – entirely in keeping with the house philosophy, which favours spontaneous fermentation, restraint in the cellar and the avoidance of new wood.
Food recommendations
Wonderful with aubergine stew seasoned with Mediterranean herbs, or with lamb dishes of all kinds – from leg to braised shoulder.
Special features
An unusual Priorat: the inclusion of Pinot Noir and the cool, elevated site lend the wine a lightness and drinkability rarely found in this region. A superb demonstration that Catalonia can produce fine, cool red wines well beyond the blockbusters.
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