Embruix de Vall Llach (2017)

Situated in one of the D.O.Q. Priorat’s oldest towns, Porrera, the relatively “young” vines that make up this wine are located on steep slopes comprised entirely of slate, known locally as llicorella.  Due to the steep slopes’ inability to retain water and the dry, fiery climate, even the clusters that come from Vall Llach’s youngest vineyards are small and dense, providing the Embruix with its characteristic “bewitching” quality. THE ESTATE-OWNED VINEYARDS Vineyards: Six estate-owned vineyards Elevation: 990-1,500 feet Slope: terraces planted on 30-70% slopes Size: 74 acres Number of vines planted: est. 2,000 vines/acre Production per vine: average of 1,000 grams Vineyard planted: 1994-2000 (average age = 20+ years-old)

The 2017 vintage in DOQ Priorat turned out to be a balance between climatic extremes. Rainfall above average at the beginning of the growing season and spring was then answered by very hot temperatures following verasion and the lack of rain during July and August. The early ripening that resulted was moderated during the month of September, though, when light rains, dry wind from the north and a significant drop in temperatures favored a slower and more balanced maturity of the grapes’ concentration, which had been quickly accelerated during the hotter months.Harvest started early, in the second half of September and was finished between October 18thand 21st.Overall, it can be said that the 2017 vintage in DOQ Priorat produced healthy and exceptional grapes, and wines that are very pure and direct aromatically, described by winemaker Albert Costa as ‘mature, structured wines that are concentrated and elegant and with good acidity…characteristics that are all ideal for long bottle aging.’

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