Josep Grau Viticultor Vespres Tinto 2024

Josep Grau Viticultor crafts Vespres in D.O. Montsant, the Catalan appellation that rings the more famous Priorat. The name recalls the Carthusian monks who paused at dusk for vespers and a glass of the wine they grew themselves. The blend of Garnacha Tinta and the local Samsó draws on Montsant's mix of clay, limestone and the licorella schist that the region shares with its neighbour, soils that drain hard and force the vines to root deep. The Mediterranean climate ripens the Garnacha fully while cooler nights hold the acidity. After fermentation the wine spends eight months in French oak, a measured ageing that rounds the tannins and adds a light cedar frame without masking the fruit. The result is medium to full bodied, deep ruby in the glass, with cherry, plum and red berry on the nose lifted by dried Mediterranean herbs and a stony earthiness. The palate is supple and savoury, the oak folded into ripe fruit and a fresh, mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, and decant a short while if young. It suits roast lamb, grilled red meat and aged sheep cheese.