Les Tosses 2021

Les Tosses comes from Terroir al Límit in the village of Torroja in Priorat, a small production red made from Cariñena vines around seventy years old. Priorat's defining feature is its soil, the dark slate known locally as llicorella, which forces the roots deep in search of water and gives the wines their mineral, smoky signature. The climate is hot and dry, and the steep terraces and old, low yielding vines concentrate the fruit, while the slate radiates heat to aid ripening. Terroir al Límit works with a non interventionist, biodynamic approach to show the site as directly as possible. The wine is aged for twenty four months in large French oak foudres, whose size means a low ratio of wood to wine, so oxygen exchange softens the tannins gradually without adding obvious oak flavour. It is neither fined nor filtered. The colour is deep red. The nose shows dark and red berry fruit with liquorice, dried herbs, smoke and a strong wet stone minerality. The palate is full bodied and firmly structured, with grippy tannins, bright acidity and a long, mineral, savoury finish. Decant and serve at 16 to 18 degrees. It suits grilled red meat and game.