Josep Grau Viticultor El Pas de l’Estudiant 2023

El Pas de l'Estudiant comes from Josep Grau Viticultor in D.O. Montsant, the Catalan appellation that wraps around Priorat. The blend leads on Garnacha Peluda, the hairy-leaved Garnacha clone prized for its freshness and resistance to heat, with Cariñena for structure and acidity and a small portion of Garnacha Blanca. Montsant's soils mix licorella slate with limestone and clay, and the warm, dry inland climate is tempered by altitude and night-time cooling, which holds acidity and slows ripening so the fruit keeps definition at full maturity. Old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena here run deep roots into poor soils, giving low yields and concentrated, mineral fruit. The wine spent nine months in oak barrels, softening the Cariñena tannin and adding a light spice frame while the stone-driven freshness carries through. The colour is a pale to medium red. The nose shows red and dark forest fruit, dried herbs, black pepper and a stony, earthy lift. The palate is medium to full bodied with firm but ripe tannin, fresh acidity and a savoury, liquorice-tinged finish. Serve at 16 to 17C, decanting an hour ahead. Good with grilled lamb, beef stew or aged cheese.