2009 Clos Pissarra, El Mont, El Lloar

The name Clos Pissarra is derived from the Catalan word for slate, as this is the soil that covers the regions of Montsant (sacred mountain) and Priorat (priory), that lie about 85 miles southwest of Barcelona.

Priorat has quickly established itself as the premier wine region in Spain, producing wines of great intensity and concentration but yet remaining elegant and balanced. The most highly regarded sites comes from the villages of Bellmunt del Priorat, El Molar, El Lloar, Gratallops and Porrera.

Montsant has found a most comfortable niche, being described as a softer, more approachable version of Priorat, and a great value. The most highly touted sites in the appellation are found in the villages of Falset and Capcanes.

We do not belong to either the Priorat or the Montsant appellation system as we found the current process to join either one cumbersome, bureaucratic and not necessarily conducive to producing fine wine. A number of other high profile producers are now following in our footsteps in this regard. Thus we are neither Montsant or Priorat and instead are simply Clos Pissarra. Each of the vineyard bottlings does name the town where that vineyard lies and the grape varieties that make up the wine.

Clos Pissarra, El Mont (Grenache), El Lloar

The Vineyard

El Mont (meaning the mountain in Catalan) refers to a 1.5 hectare vineyard (3.75 acres) in the town of El Lloar in Priorat. The vineyard sits at the base of an incredible and very steep mountain and the whole scene creates a profound impression on any visitor. This vineyard is planted entirely to Grenache (Garnatxa). It is a trellised and terraced vineyard with a very unusual, for the region that is, blend of clay, granite and the more commonly found slate. Yields are less than ¾ of a ton per acre.

The 2009

Compared to the 2008, because the weather was warmer and there was very little rain, the resultant berries were smaller and more concentrated.

109 cases produced