2014 Clos Pissarra, El Sol Blanc, Falset

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.

The 2014

As this vineyard continues to mature the flavor intensity rises and it is fast becoming a favorite at the winery.

213 cases produced

Clos Pissarra, El Sol Blanc (White Grenache), Falset

The Vineyard

El Sol Blanc is a two and a half acre vineyard that lies in the Montsant region in the province of Tarragona and surrounds the Clos Pissarra winery. This vineyard is named after the brutal sun that besieges the area every summer (“The White Sun” in Catalan). Made up entirely of White Grenache (Garnatxa Blanca in Catalan), the soil is a mixture of clay and slate.