TERROIR AL LÍMIT | PRIORAT

Arbossar 2021

Defying the winemaking wisdom of the time, Dominik Huber embraced the beauty and challenge of revitalizing the ancient Carignan vines of this north-facing L ’ Arbossar vineyard. Many of the plantings on these steep 1.6 hectares date back to 1910, placing them among the oldest in the region. L ’ Arbossar is an homage to both tradition and daring, marked by an elegant interplay between sun, shadow and the very wind that runs through the vines on these steep, 400-meter-high llicorella slopes. Crafted using whole bunch fermentation, 8 months vinification and aging in cement. 

The wine opens with aromatic red and blue fruits and heady herbs of rosemary and sage. It echoes the dichotomy of the rugged Priorat landscape and fresh, crunchy fruit. Sleek and concentrated, with a nearly pristine purity, electric acidity and lingering finish. A wine with French soul, German head and Spanish heart.   
Location Torroja del Priorat
Age 90 years old
Altitude 350 - 400 meters
Orientation
 North
Varieties
 100% Carignan
Soils
 Slate/granite
Production
 4,200 bottles
Yield
 2,500 kg per hectare
Alcohol 13.5 %
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET
Location Torroja del Priorat
Age 90 years old
Altitude 350 - 400 meters
Orientation
 North
Varieties
 100% Carignan
Soils
 Slate/granite
Production
 4,200 bottles
Yield
 2,500 kg per hectare
Alcohol 13.5 %
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET
  • ELEVAGE
  • REVIEW
After several years experimenting with different casks, sizes and producers, we now work with a combination of 500-litre barrels and different sizes of Stockinger, thus guaranteeing the most respectful elevage to allow the wine to rest before early bottling. We prefer bottling the wines in a rather reductive state with some hints of gas and lots of life. This means they are very fresh and vital when put into the bottle, resulting in a fresh, straightforward wine which is tight and has lots of tension.
Reviewed by Luis Gutiérrez | The Wine Advocat

The old-vine Cariñena 2015 Arbossar has a distinct note of licorice that grows in the glass. By working the vineyard with compost, they have managed to increase yields around 15%, and they feel the grapes achieve better balance, which is very difficult to see in the very poor llicorella slate soils that have almost no organic matter.

It’s a north-facing slope planted some 90 years ago, and the grapes are very concentrated, so it’s a challenge to achieve a floral and fresh Cariñena like this, with notes of blue fruit and violets, quite different from the majority of Cariñena from Priorat. It matured in Stockinger oak foudres for 16 months, and like the majority of wines here, it shows perfectly integrated oak, with just faint spices nicely intermixed with the fruit. There is no heat at all; it’s a cool vineyard, and that freshness is translated into the wine and is especially noticeable in a warm and ripe year like 2015.

Superb showing for the Arbossar—it has to be one of the best vintages ever. 3,900 bottles were filled in April 2017.