La Solana dels Marges 2018

Wine Description for La Solana dels Marges 2018 by Portal del Priorat

Colour & Appearance

Deep ruby red with a black core and violet reflections – a deceptively intense robe that promises more power than the wine ultimately delivers.

Nose

Surprisingly fresh and lively for a Priorat Carignan: sour cherries, wild raspberries and wild strawberries dominate, accompanied by delicate floral notes of hibiscus and violets. Beneath these, mild spices – sumac, cloves – and a distinctive top note of vetiver and white pepper. The nose promises elegance, yet the surface tension in the glass betrays the concentrated power.

Palate

Here the wine reveals its true character: gripping, extract-rich, with firm, fine-meshed tannins that immediately fill the mouth. The vibrant acidity orchestrates everything like a conductor – precise, vibrant, relentless. Layer upon layer unfolds red fruits, overlaid with ethereal notes of eucalyptus and menthol. The tannin recalls dark chocolate, refined and invigorating at once.

Finish

Long, fresh and herbaceous-spicy. The menthol note and taut acidity linger, the tannin remains present – a wine that doesn’t let go and demands to be tasted again.

Terroir & Origin

From the historic vineyard site La Solana, planted with pure Carignan in 1911, at 370 metres altitude. The north-north-east exposure and Atlantic winds lend the wine, despite the extract of old vines, its unusual freshness and directness. The typical Llicorella slate of Priorat shapes structure and minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Carignan from vines over 100 years old (5,500 plants/hectare). Hand-harvested in mid-September, whole-bunch fermentation over 40 days in wooden vats, followed by 18 months ageing in French barrels (500-700 litres). A respectful approach to old vines.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Braised aubergines with mint, raisins and pine nuts, salt cod in red wine with mushrooms or Moroccan lamb tagine with aubergines and quinces – the wine demands aromatic depth and spicy complexity.

Special Features

A wine from the legacy of Alfredo Arribas, who painstakingly reclaimed historic vineyard sites. The combination of old vines, cool vineyard site and modern winemaking yields a Priorat of unusual elegance – powerful, yet never heavy.