La Conreria Nona Negre 2022

La Conreria d'Scala Dei works in the rugged Priorat hills, where Carthusian monks first planted vines in the twelfth century. Nona Negre blends Garnacha with Merlot and Syrah, the Garnacha giving ripe fruit and warmth and the international grapes adding colour and structure. Priorat's defining terroir is llicorella, the steeply terraced slate and quartz soil that forces vine roots deep in search of water, producing very low yields of intensely concentrated fruit and lending the wines their hallmark mineral, stony depth. The hot, dry climate and poor soils drive full ripeness and high alcohol, balanced by the freshness the altitude and slate retain. The wine is aged ten months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the firm tannins and adds a measured spice and toast, while fermentation skin contact extracts the deep colour and grip. Farming is organic, and the wine is vegan. It is a dense, dark red. The nose shows ripe red cherry, raspberry and plum over oak spice, smoke and a stony, mineral edge; the palate is full and structured, with concentrated dark fruit, firm tannins and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted, with grilled and roasted red meats.