Red wine, Destí, Mervm Priorati (6 units)
Technical sheet:
Winery: Mervm Priorati (Grupo Pere Ventura Wine Estate)
D.O.Ca. Priorat
Vintage: 2020
Varieties: 65% Garnacha Negra, 15% Cariñena, 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 15.0% vol.
Tasting notes:
Destí 2020 is a wine of great aromatic intensity; highly appealing on the nose thanks to the persistence of mineral accents, ripe autumn fruits and a subtle perfume of Spanish lavender—lavandula stoechas—which spreads across the terraces of our vineyards, alongside other noble Mediterranean plants. On the palate, Destí 2020 is silky, broad and balsamic; we perceive echoes of pomegranate, sloe and strawberry-tree cherry; it is generous, luscious, with a long aftertaste full of subtle nuances. In the glass it shows an intense cherry-red color, yet we can also sense the chromatic vibration of an autumn sunset.
Serving temperature: 16º C
Geology and Soil:
Llicorella: rocky and very poor in organic matter, so the vines have little vigor and offer low yields. The bedrock is laminated, forcing the vines to develop roots down to 15 meters. Both factors help create an ideal environment to withstand summer stress and consolidate the progressive, perfect ripening of the grapes.
Harvest
The 2020 vintage was marked by a rather rainy spring and a dry, warm summer and autumn. Garnacha production was irregular due to difficulties with fruit set. The hailstorm in June had no major effects. The harvest was very healthy and stood out for its quality, giving rise to a truly spectacular wine.
Pairing
At Made in Spain Gourmet, we suggest pairing Destí 2020 to perfection with fairly lean dishes: Galician Rubia beef tenderloin with foie gras; wood-fired turbot with mille-feuille of Monalisa potatoes, and always with 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham such as those available on our website, Maldonado, Enrique Tomás or Majada Pedroche. It is also ideal with other meats such as Iberian secreto or kid goat. And, of course, with well-aged cheeses such as the aged cheeses from Quesería 1605 or Quesos Vazquez.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested grapes collected in 20 kg crates. 100% of the harvest is destemmed. Fermentation/maceration is carried out at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. After three weeks, a gentle pressing is performed using a horizontal pneumatic press. Once pressed, the wine is transferred to 225 l French oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation takes place. After aging for between 12 and 14 months in oak barrels, the wine is blended and bottled. Destí 2020 is neither filtered nor clarified.
It is an exceptional wine whose 2018 vintage was recognized as the 4th best wine in the world by Wine Spectator magazine.
2020 vintage: extraordinary
At Mervm Priorati, they work hard and strive every day to guarantee the quality standards of their wines. They accept extreme weather conditions and endure the adversities of heroic viticulture that shape the character of the land. They work exclusively with grapes from their own estates: origin is the only path to guaranteeing wines of the highest quality. The result is a very limited production defined by terroir.
The 2020 vintage was rated Excellent for its quality and for the healthy condition of the grapes. However, abundant rainfall in the vineyard and excess humidity combined with overly warm temperatures created the perfect environment for the development of one of the most devastating fungal diseases: downy mildew. At Mervm Priorati, it struck during flowering and, as a result, a significant proportion of the vines bore no fruit. The 2020 grape harvest was therefore very good, but also very scarce.
This vintage will bring great prestige to the wines of Mervm Priorati.
The region holds the coveted DOCa.
Today, the region holds the coveted “Denominación de Origen Calificada” designation, which in Spain it shares only with Rioja.
The Priorat Denominación de Origen Calificada is a small mountainous region located in the province of Tarragona. The Montsant mountain range borders it to the north; to the west lies the La Figuera range, to the east the Molló range, and to the south the territory opens along the course of the Siurana River downstream toward the Ebro. The Siurana River and its tributaries are the area’s main geographical artery, creating a series of valleys and small plains, also thanks to the geological sinuosity of the mountain ranges and slopes. In accordance with Catalan legislation on regional administrative division, the DOCa Priorat territory falls within a broader administrative boundary known as the “Comarca del Priorat,” which also includes an area that is not part of the winegrowing Priorat.
The Priorat Denominación de Origen Calificada covers 17,629 hectares, of which 2,163.97 are planted with vines and cultivated by 513 winegrowers. Administratively, 9 municipalities form part of the DOCa Priorat: Bellmunt del Priorat, Gratallops, El Lloar, El Molar, La Morera de Montsant (which includes the village of Scala Dei within its municipality), Poboleda, Porrera, Torroja del Priorat, La Vilella Alta and La Vilella Baixa. In addition, the northern part of the municipality of Falset (the Masos de Falset area) and the eastern part of the municipality of El Molar (Les Solanes del Molar) also lie within the boundaries of the DOQ Priorat. La Morera de Montsant, Scala Dei, Gratallops, Torroja del Priorat, Porrera and Poboleda were formerly part of the Priorat of the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei. The rest were included in the delimitation of the designation of origin carried out in 1932, which shaped the current DOCa Priorat territory. As a result of the expansion of vine cultivation and the quality of its wines, promoted, driven and dominated by the Carthusian monks, the area gained worldwide renown, making it today one of the most important winegrowing regions in the world.