Scala Dei Prior 2022

Scala Dei is one of the historic names of Priorat in Catalonia, and this Prior bottling draws on small, carefully selected plots planted on the region's defining soil. Those vineyards are known as costers, the steep terraced slopes whose broken slate, called llicorella locally, forces the vines to root deeply and yield little, concentrating flavour and giving Priorat its signature mineral, stony character. The blend is Garnacha led, with Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, and the warm, dry climate ripens the fruit fully, which is why the wine reaches a generous fifteen percent. The grapes are destemmed and given a cold maceration before fermentation, drawing colour and aromatics from the skins gently before the alcohol rises. Ageing runs twelve months in a mix of French and American oak, which softens the firm tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds vanilla, spice and a light smoky frame. The colour is deep, bright ruby. The nose shows ripe plum, black cherry, liquorice and crushed stone, with vanilla and pepper from the wood. The palate is full bodied and structured, with substantial but ripe tannin and a long mineral finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted, with grilled red meat.