La Solana dels Marges 2018

La Solana dels Marges comes from the Clos des Portal line of Alfredo Arribas. The former architect painstakingly rebuilt old historic sites before retiring from the project in 2010. The oldest vineyard, La Solana, was planted as early as 1911 with 100% Carignan in a north-northeast orientation. This Atlantic exposure means that there is always a fresh breeze blowing through the single vineyard, giving the wines their straightforward and lean expression despite the immense extract of the old vines. Grown on the local Llicorella slate at an altitude of around 370 metres above sea level, the vines have a density of 5500 canes/ha. Harvested by hand until mid-September, the grapes, which have not been destemmed, ferment for around 40 days in wooden barrels before being aged for 18 months in French 5-700 litre barrels.

Dark ruby red with black core and violet reflections.

Despite its dark colour, the 2018 La Solana dels Marges from Portal del Priorat impresses with its lively and above all fresh fruit. Sour cherries and wild raspberries fill its basket, along with wild strawberries and delicate floral notes of hibiscus and violets. Underpinned by mild spices of sumac and cloves, it has a distinctive fresh top note of vetiver and white pepper. Despite its supposed lightness on the nose, the wine announces a concentrated complex experience and fills the goblet with surface tension.

Herbaceously fresh with gripping tannin and rich extract, the wine immediately shows itself with full pride and completely fills the mouth. Its richly filled fruit basket is woven of tart, tightly meshed firm tannin, the bright acidity shines like a star in the firmament. Concentrated and juicy, the wine unpacks aromatically like a Win-Zip file layer by layer and also reminds of extract-rich red fruits on the palate, overbuilt with ethereal notes of eucalyptus and menthol, which underlines the wine's fresh character in the finish. The animating tannin - as subtle as bitter chocolate - adds to the fresh fruit and the vibrant acidity that orchestrates the overall performance on the palate. Modern ensemble with dramaturgically expressive play, winds, strings, choirs, everything in the glass. Applause and encore included.