„La Rodeda“ Velles Vinyes 2019

Wine Description for „La Rodeda“ Velles Vinyes 2019 by Familia Nin Ortiz

Colour & Appearance

Deep, intensely coloured purple, with sharp rims and dense – a wine that signals substance and seriousness even in the glass.

Nose

The nose is simply extraordinary. Fresh blackberries and warm blueberry cake open the play, followed by liquorice, noble tobacco and a subtly smoky depth that distantly recalls Islay whisky. Beneath lies a fascinating saline minerality – as if a sea breeze were blowing through the slate of Priorat. Truffle and earth complete a bouquet of impressive complexity. The oak influence is flawlessly integrated: present, but never intrusive.

Palate

On the palate, La Rodeda unfolds a cool, electrifying freshness that one simply does not expect at 14% alcohol and in the heat of Priorat. Juicy, precise and multifaceted – with a fine tension between ripe fruit and vibrant acidity. A wine of genuine inner energy, which despite its power remains elegant and never heavy.

Finish

Long, saline-mineral and carried by fine tannin structure. The finish lingers – complex, cool and remarkably precise. A wine that one continues to contemplate minutes after the last sip.

Terroir & Origin

La Rodeda comes from a tiny single vineyard of just 0.4 hectares in Priorat, which is listed as its own vineyard site in the official appellation maps – something Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz themselves did not know for a long time. The vineyard is north-facing and belongs to the highest-altitude vineyards in all of Priorat. The soil combines black Llicorella slate with red quartzite – a geological rarity that gives the wine its characteristic minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Nearly pure Garnacha Peluda (Lladoner Pelut) – a hairy, aromatically distinctive Grenache variant – with a small proportion of Carignan. The vines are around 80 years old. Fermentation as whole bunch, maturation in 100% new French barriques. Craftsmanship at the highest level.

Food Pairing Recommendations

The wine pairs with dishes of depth and character: Wagyu beef with sea salt, olive oil and rosemary sweet potatoes is an almost ideal combination. Equally convincing: charcoal-grilled pigeon with red lentils and Pimientos de Padrón. For the adventurous: liquorice gnocchi with orange sauce and cardamom – an unconventional but intriguing interplay with the wine’s liquorice notes. Open at least 2 hours beforehand and serve from a large Burgundy glass.

Special Features

A wine that redefines the boundaries of Priorat. The combination of altitude, north-facing aspect, ancient Garnacha Peluda vines and the consistent winemaking craft of Familia Nin Ortiz yields one of Spain’s most fascinating single-vineyard wines. If you have the chance to secure bottles – do it.