A vibrant Garnacha from Montsant which, at just 13% ABV, demonstrates how light-footed and fresh Spanish red wine can be – 800 metres of altitude, 45-year-old bush vines and ageing in amphora rather than oak.
Bottler: Terroir Sense Fronteres, c/ Baixa Font 12, 43737 Torroja del Priorat / Spain
In the glass
Colour
Pale, translucent red with ruby reflections – unusually transparent for the region.
Nose
Red berries such as cherry and raspberry, accompanied by wild Mediterranean herbs and a fine earthy-mineral note from the red gypsum soils.
Palate
Dry, juicy and supple with soft tannins, cool fruit and refreshing acidity; moderate alcohol ensures excellent drinkability.
Character
Elegant and Burgundian rather than heavy and opulent – a Montsant that displays depth without weightiness, reinterpreting the region’s powerful style.
Pairing
Lamb chops with rosemary, tapas with chorizo and Manchego, or mushroom risotto.
Notes
Whole bunches are foot-trodden and fermented in 400-litre terracotta amphorae – entirely without oak. Early harvesting, minimal sulphur addition, neither fining nor filtration: the result from old Garnacha bush vines in the Les Montalts vineyard is regarded as a benchmark for modern Montsant.
Tasting note
Character
A Montsant that deliberately subverts expectations of a powerful Spain: pale colour, moderate 13.0% alcohol, wild herbs and red berries rather than opulence. Guix Vermell – Catalan for “red gypsum”, named after the soil colour of its vineyard – evokes the finesse of Burgundy more than the heavy red wines that long defined this region. Dry, fresh, supported by supple tannins: a wine of vibrancy and depth without heaviness.
Terroir & Origin
Only a few hundred metres separate Montsant from the famous Priorat – and yet the sandy-clay soils here open up entirely different possibilities. The vines for Guix Vermell are rooted in the Les Montalts vineyard at 800 metres altitude: four hectares with approximately 45-year-old Garnacha bush vines. The climate is Mediterranean, but the elevation ensures cool nights and slow ripening – the foundation for this wine’s remarkable freshness.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Pure Garnacha from old, low-yielding vines – harvested early to keep alcohol levels moderate. In Tatjana Peceric and Dominik Huber’s cellar there is neither a destemmer nor barriques: the whole bunches are foot-trodden with stems and fermented in terracotta amphorae or concrete tanks. Minimal sulphur addition, no fining, no filtration – an approach that preserves freshness and renders the tannins soft. Founded in 2017, the project is now regarded as a benchmark for modern Montsant.
Food Pairings
The herbal freshness and slender body make this Garnacha a versatile table wine: excellent with rack of lamb with rosemary, paella or tapas with chorizo and pimientos. Grilled vegetables, mushroom dishes and medium-aged Manchego also find a worthy partner in it. Served slightly chilled, at 14 to 16 degrees, it reveals its most vibrant side.
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