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PRIORAT
CLOS NELIN |
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Owner :
René Barbier of Clos Mogador
Products :
Priorat Blanco, Clos Nelin
Location :
Various vineyards at high altitude, close to the village of Gratallops. Some of the Viognier is from the "Ermita" hill, just beside Alvaro Palacios' famous vineyard. Another source for the Viognier is Clos Figueres, which belongs to Christopher Cannan of Europvin.
The Pinot Noir is from the Clos Mogador estate, and the Grenache Blanc and Marsanne from a very high vineyard (over 600 metres) opposite Clos Mogador on the left bank of the Siurana River.
Size of the Vineyards :
4 different parcels, totalling 10 hectares
Soil :
The famous local "llicorella" - alternate layers of slate and quartz on a schist bedrock.
Grape Varieties :
60% Grenache Blanc, 15% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, plus 10% Pinot Noir (vinified as a white)
Average age of the vines :
5 to 25 years old
Average production :
Production is slowly increasing, but remains very small - currently around 6 000 bottles per year.
Vinification and ageing :
Part in new French oak (a mixture of 225, 300 & 500 litre casks), part in stainless steel.
Marketing :
Same network as Clos Mogador.
Because of the small quantity produced, distribution is on an allocation only basis.
Tasting notes :
Due to the unusual grape mix and extraordinary soils of the Priorat, Clos Nelin is a remarkably complex dry white wine. The aromas are rich and intense...the exotic notes from the Viognier blending nicely with the more assertive Pinot Noir characteristics and the soft flowery mineral tones of the Grenache Blanc.
On the palate Clos Nelin is soft, rich and expressive, again with the complexity of the exotic Viognier and powerful Pinot Noir - mangoes, apricots, spices and minerals all show through. The wine has a silky texture and impressive depth and length. Wonderful with the spicy, aromatic Catalan cuisine of the region. Best over the next 3 to 5 years.
Notes on the property :
René Barbier of Clos Mogador has always wanted to make a white wine worthy of his reputation as one of the greatest producers of the Priorat.
In the early days he experimented with some Pinot Noir for his red wines. This was not a success in the hot Mediterranean climate so he decided to vinify his Pinot Noir as a white wine ... like in Champagne.
At the same time he had planted small plots of Viognier and Garnacha Blanca in his highest vineyards ... notably on the reknown Ermita hill, close to Gratallops. Meanwhile, in 1998, Christopher Cannan planted some Viognier at Clos Figueras. Instead of 500 vines to complement the Syrah, the "pépinieriste" delivered 2 500 Viognier vines. The error was not discovered until rather too many sound white Viognier grapes were observed during the growing season. Faced with the choice of regrafting or keeping the Viognier ; the vines and resulting grapes were so healthy Christopher decided to keep them. Not producing enough for a separate bottling the grapes are blended with those from René's vineyards to make Clos Nelin.
The first vintage was 2 000 but only 600 bottles were produced. For 2001 the production was increased to 2 200 bottles from a final blend of 50% Garnacha Blanca, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Viognier and a touch of Marsanne. |
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