2009 Clos Pissarra, El Ramon, Bellmunt del Priorat

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 Ramon (Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan & Syrah), Bellmunt del Priorat

The Vineyard

El Ramon (meaning the one known as Ramon in Catalan) refers to Ramon Marco, our vineyard manager, whose passion and commitment to his work is what helps us produce the quality of wines we strive for. This bottling is made up of three vineyards all within the town of Bellmunt del Priorat. The wine is made of about 50% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. Yields on these very steep hillsides, were the only thing you see on the ground is slate (locally referred to as licorella) are typically less than 1 ton to the acre!


The 2009

2009 saw some very hot temperatures in August with some mild rains at the start of September that gave the vines a much needed respite. Towards the end of September when we started to harvest the first grapes the fruit looked terrific. This was the third vintage for El Ramon and the care and dedication that Ramon Marco does in every waking moment of his being shows in this powerful yet balanced and elegant wine.

486 cases produced