Josep Grau Granit Blanc 2022

Garnatxa Blanca aus dem Ort Marca, 45 Jahre alte Reben; 2,5 Hektar, unterteilt in drei Terrassen, Kalk-Lehmböden mit vielen Granit- und Sandanteilen, eine der Terrassen ist nach Süden ausgerichtet und dem Garbi-Wind vom 15 km entfernten Meer ausgesetzt, was die salzigen Noten erklärt. Handlese im September, die Trauben werden entrappt, Fermentation und Reifung für 6 Monate in Stockinger-Holzfässern (2000 l); nur gut 9.000 Flaschen produziert; 13,5 % vol.
Das Etikett zeigt eine kleine Eidechse mit einem roten Schwanz, die in diesem Weinberg häufig vorkommt. Sie leben in den Granit- und Sandböden hier und sie nehmen bei Gefahr die Farbe der Umgebung an, um sich vor den natürlichen Feinden zu tarnen.

- Notizen des Weinguts: „Aromas of apricot and apple, not very ripe. White flowers and wild herbs. A lot of minerality and a faithful reflection of the vineyard from which it comes. Lovely mouth feeling, subtle and with Mediterranean essence.(…) The label has a lizard with a red tail because on the plot where the Granit is coming from you can find many of them. They live in Granitic and sandy soil and when they see the risk with a predator changes the tail to red for getting the same colour of the soil and make sure that the predator don´t see them.“

- 94 Punkte und Tipp JoS: „Mittelkräftiges Goldgelb, klar und mit silbernen Rand, erhöhte Viskosität; offenes, einladendes, komplexes Nasenbild mit Aromen von weißen und gelben Früchten, Weinbergpfirsich, nicht ganz reife Ananas, rote Äpfel, reife Birnen, etwas Grapefruitwürze, Limette, umrahmt von feinröstigen, nussigen Aromen; am Gaumen feincremig, elegant, mittelkräftiger+ Körper, gleitet über den Gaumen, finessenreich, kraftvoll aber nie üppig, bleibt auf stets auf der eleganten Seite, mineralisch-salzige Anklänge, auch würzige Noten, tolle Energie, mittlere+ Säure, plötzlich mundwässernd und frisch, sehr engmaschig, komplex, langer, frischer, feinsalziger Abgang. Dekantieren empfehlenswert. Zalto Burgunderglas. 94 Punkte.“

- 93 Punkte GUIA PENIN (2025 Scorings): „COLOUR: bright straw, AROMA: white fruit, wild herbs, dried flowers, mineral, FLAVOUR: juicy, full of life, varietal, fine bitter notes.“

- 93 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: „Pretty nose of apricots, lemons, chopped apples and fresh pears. Some jasmine and spicy white pepper notes. Vibrant and flavorful, with a medium to full body, fantastic freshness and a lengthy finish. Drink now.“

- 92 Punkte, TIM ATKIN, Special Report Catalunya 2024: 50 year old Garnacha Blanca, fermented and aged in 2000L stockinger foudres. This is step up from the Vespres with a delicate, endearing note of tarragon to complement te ripe stone and orchard fruits. Chalky, textured and with just the right amount of Garnacha "fat" on the palate. 2022-2030“

- 92 Punkte Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Luis Gutiérrez (05/2024): „The varietal Garnacha Blanca 2022 Granit keeps the waxy aromas of the grape and the mineral salinity of the soils that name the wine. The juice from the pressing of the full clusters fermented in a 2,000-liter oak foudre, where it matured for seven months. It has good ripeness, 13.6% alcohol and keeps a pH of 3.33 with five grams of acidity in this warmer year. It has volume and a juicy texture and finishes very tasty and long. This is a triumph over the conditions of the year. 8,023 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2023. Drink Date: 2023-2028.

The wines from Josep Grau Viticultor, who works in Montsant (mostly) and a little in Priorat, seem to be getting better and better. This is a name that usually flies under the radar and deserves more recognition. In 2020, he purchased a vineyard in Capçanes, El Pas de l'Estudian, from which he now produces a new wine under that name. He now has 14.5 hectares of vines in the village of Capçanes and 18 in Marçá in Montsant and 10.5 hectares in Gratallops in Priorat.

I tasted wines from 2021 and 2022, two very different vintages. 2021 was marked by the January snowstorm that brought up to 80 centimeters of snow in some places and plenty of rain through the season, which was cooler than usual. He talks about "delicate, ethereal reds with good structure and depth." As for 2022, it was extremely dry with successive heat waves and was saved by 48 liters of rain on July 6th. The wines are more fragrant, but he tries to keep the line of the 2021s."