At Costers del Priorat, Jose Mas Barberá produces distinctive, terroir-driven wines rooted in the Catalan countryside. He emphasizes nuance and elegance over power, a philosophical departure from the strong, tannic wines that once defined the region.
Jose farms plots in nine of the twelve villages of Priorat, allowing him to explore different terroirs. The majority of his plantings are carignan-based, and this includes his two most important sites, Mas Alsera and Sant Martí. All of his limited production wines are classified as Vielles Vinyes (old vines), a designation for vines planted before 1945. Jose applies organic farming methods and a gentle élevage from vineyard to bottle so that the wines evolve naturally and elegantly.
Clos Alzina is a true grand cru parcel in the village of Torroja del Priorat. Planted in 1939 at 600m elevation, it is a north-facing site composed of steep, terraced vineyards planted in yellow- and red-slate soils surrounding the old Alsera masia (Catalan farmhouse) that dates from 1839. The name Alzina is a reference to the acorn trees that surround the vineyard to distract roaming pigs from the grapes. Although in the center of Priorat, wines from Torroja transmit a distinct feeling of freshness due to the cool air channeled into the village from the ocean by the surrounding mountains at night. Clos Alzina is a limited 100% samsó (carignan) Vi de Paratge bottling, built to improve with additional time in bottle. Wines are made with minimal sulfur at bottling.
Vinification
After a manual harvest, fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts in 500L French barrels, with subsequent 40-day maceration and spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 12 months in the same vessels.
Region
Catalonia
Appellation
Priorat
Vineyards & Villages
Mas Alsera
Elevation
240-600m
Grapes
Samsó
Vine Age
Planted between 1939-2004
Soil
Llicorella
Fermentation
Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in 500L French oak barrels
Aging
12 months in 500L demi-muids
Farming
Practicing Organic
Vegan
Yes
ABV
14.5%
Pack Size
6x750mL