Mas Doix Poboleda Vi de Vila 2023

Mas Doix Poboleda is a Vi de Vila, a single-village wine from the Poboleda zone of D.O.Q. Priorat in Catalonia, made from organic Garnacha. Priorat's defining feature is its soil, a fractured black slate known as licorella that forces the vines to dig deep for water through the dry, hot summers, yielding tiny crops of concentrated fruit and giving the wine its mineral, structured backbone. The steep terraces and warm climate ripen Garnacha fully, here to 15 percent alcohol, while the altitude and poor soils keep the wine fresh and savoury rather than merely powerful. It is raised in concrete, which preserves the purity of the fruit and the slate character without adding oak flavour, while malolactic conversion settles the acidity. The 2023 is deep ruby, with spicy aromas of red fruit and berries over black pepper, dried herbs and a smoky, earthy mineral note. The palate is full and firmly structured, with concentrated fruit, fine tannin and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant ahead. It suits grilled meats, game and mushrooms.