The 2010 Palell is a very pale Garnacha Peluda from a low-yielding, 0.7 hectare vineyard planted in 1950 on clay soils. The grapes fermented in 500-liter oak barrels and the wine was transferred to used barriques for malolactic and aging. Quite light-colored, it has a musky, fragrant nose, slightly closed at first, but slowly revealing its true, strong personality with pure aromas of red cherries (it feels like you’re really chewing them!), balsamic herbs and hints of cinnamon and vanilla. The palate is medium-bodied with great acidity and persistence, clean flavors and a long aftertaste. A great, elegant Garnacha with a strong, different personality. Only 880 bottles were produced. Drink 2014-2020.
Orto Vins was created in 2008 by four vignerons from the village of Masroig, one of them winemaker Joan Asens who worked for a long time with Alvaro Palacios in Priorat. Between them they have 24 hectares of vineyards mostly in the Masroig village, ranging from 8 to 143 years of age. As expected, in the 24 hectares there is a variety of grapes, soils and altitudes to produce a wide range of labels. I was really looking forward to tasting their line-up, as some of the wines were new to me. They work according to biodynamic practices, follow moon cycles, have much lower yields than those allowed by the Montsant appellation, and all their wines are aged in fourth- and fifth-use French oak barrels. I found wines of great purity, and true to their origin and varieties. They are highly recommended. Total production averages 35,000 bottles per year.
Importer: Peninsula Imports, New Rochelle, NY; tel. (914) 740-4724.