Bodegas Marco Abella
Bodegas Marco Abella was founded in 2001 by the Marco family, who have lived in the village of Porrera since the fifteenth century, with the aim of making wines which express the authenticity, characteristics and essence of the Porrera region. To this end they acquired thirty hectares of vines in the immediate vicinity of Porrera, and created a three tier winery built some seven metres into the hillside so that the wines can be moved entirely by gravity. Vines are grown on terraces and the steep slopes of the costers hills at an altitude of between 200 and 1.500 m. El Priorat boasts its own microclimate, characterised by very hot summers and cold winters, with the influence of the Mediterranean neutralised by the winds. Annual rainfall does not exceed 400-500 mm. The land is very unfertile and characterised by the presence of slate known as 'licorella'. The area's soil gives the high-quality wines produced in the D.O.Q. Priorat, which have now gained world-wine recognition, a character all their own. Production is based on organic viticulture, and biodynamic methods are adapted to suit the particular environment. Exhaustive controls are performed to ensure the best performance of the vines, using practices such as green pruning and crop thinning. Grapes are selected by hand both in the vineyard and on entering the winery. A Burgundy 'clos' type quality philosophy is followed, in that the grapes come from three different terroirs and are therefore vinified separately and according to the parcel and variety. The vinification takes place in a combination of cement tanks and open topped wooden fermenters, and uses only natural, indigenous yeasts. These are the best wines from Priorat that we have tasted; expressive, high quality, and immensely drinkable.
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Priorat Spain
Made from the younger vines at Bodegas Marco Abella, this is a fabulous entry level Priorat for early drinking.
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Priorat Spain
Garnacha (45%) and Carinena (40%) together with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The average age of vines is 15 years old from a number of different parcels in the areas of Porrera and Gratallops. Aged in a combination of cement tanks and French oak barrels for 18 months. Beautifully expressive this in an incredibly vibrant and fine wine. Very fine fruit, crisp tannins and a balance that is so rarely achieved so that this wine really sings. With extraordinary... (more info)
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Priorat Spain
A similar blend of Garnacha and Cariñena to the Mas Mallola (with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah), but from the oldest and best vines of the estate. Aged entirely in French oak barrels (a combination of 225 and 300 litre) for eighteen months, this is a much richer and denser wine which requires time in the bottle to really express intself at its best.