Les Cousins Sagesse 2021

Les Cousins, the project of cousins Marc and Adrià, work in DOQ Priorat, the steep Catalan region defined by its licorella soils of decomposed slate and quartz. Sagesse is a blend of Carignan, at 55 percent, and Grenache, at 45 percent, both varieties long established on these slopes. The licorella forces the vines to root deep for water, and the very low yields on the terraced hillsides give wines of concentration and a marked mineral character. The continental climate, with hot days and cool nights, ripens the fruit fully while preserving acidity. The grapes are picked by hand into small 12 kilogram crates and passed over a sorting table, then destemmed and fermented in stainless steel with selected yeasts. Several short macerations extract colour, tannin and the dark fruit typical of Priorat without over-extracting, and the wine then ages 16 months in French oak, the barrel time softening the firm tannins through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is deep, near-opaque ruby. The nose shows dark plum, red berries and liquorice with a stony, mineral edge and a hint of cocoa, and the palate is full bodied and structured at 14.5 percent, with firm tannins, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting ahead. It suits roast lamb and grilled red meats.