Scala Dei Cartoixa 2016 Reserva del Celler
Produced since 1974, Cartoixa is a tribute to the old vines and the classical winemaking of Scala Dei. An emblematic Priorat that conveys the purity of the fruit and the freshness characteristic of its terroir.
This unique identity was allied in 2016 with one of the most extraordinary, concentrated and balanced vintages in the recent history of Priorat. After a rainy spring that provided good water reserves, a warm and dry summer favored a notable aromatic richness, while the altitude of the plot preserved the freshness necessary for a slow and impeccable ripening.
The result was a grape with magnificent structure, well-defined ripe fruit and a tannin of exceptional silkiness. After years of slow evolution in our historic cellars, Cartoixa 2016 Reserva del Celler comes to light from the private reserve of the winery, offering the unrepeatable opportunity to enjoy a cult wine at its optimal point of consumption and maximum plenitude. Very limited availability.
- Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 94 points
- Tim Atkin: 95 points
- Guía Peñín: 92 points
- Guía Proensa: 96 points
- Varieties: 80% Red Grenache and 20% Carignan
- Alcoholic content: 14.5% Vol.
- Contains sulfites.
Grapes of the region's historic varieties, Red Grenache and Carignan, sourced from old vines around 60 years old planted on terraces and the traditional llicorella (slate) slopes (costers) of Priorat. The orography, the vine training, and above all, the desire to obtain the finest fruit, mean that harvesting is done entirely by hand. The vineyards are situated between 500 and 800 meters above sea level. Each year, the plots yielding the best fruit are selected for separate fermentation, pampering the extraction and preserving the fruit's expression to maintain the high quality found at the moment of picking.
Each plot was fermented separately in small stainless steel and concrete tanks at controlled temperatures. Maceration lasted between 5 and 6 weeks depending on the plot, ensuring the unique typicity of each vineyard was captured. Aged for 18 months in 1,400-liter foudres, 500-liter barrels (bocoys), and 2,100-liter concrete tanks. As we work with Garnachas from diverse origins, altitudes, and soils, each requires distinct treatment during aging. Therefore, we age each vineyard separately in the manner we deem most suitable for its terroir to be expressed with the utmost fidelity.