Rocapoll 2019 red (vi de la vila de Gratallops, DOQ Priorat)

One-hundred-year-old carignan.

18-month ageing in a French oak barrel.

Artisan “vi de la vila” (Catalan for “village wine”) from Gratallops, DOQ Priorat, produced from Carignan grapes grown at our hundred-year-old vineyard. The output per vintage is 300 bottles. Some truly unique items.

The 2019 vintage was characterised by a rather dry and hot spring, which tended to spread throughout the summer. The Rocapoll estate’s luck is its north-faced orientation (taking advantage of the dawn light) and its location: height of more than 320 metres (ca 1050ft) above sea level, on the second highest mountain range in Gratallops (following the Consolació Hermitage hill that reaches more than 500 metres / 1640ft). This locatin exposes the vineyard to a constant draught, which is so essential during long spells of dog heat. The age of the vineyard also helps (with its deep roots able to reach the aquifer) and the grape variety – carignan / samsó – able to withstand dry and hot weather. The harvest took place in late September, 2019, as the variety has a long annual cycle and the vine is old.