La Carrerada 2016

La Carrerada is one of the Orto Vins ‘singularidades’ – from their ‘singular wine collection’ of single varietals. This one belongs to the Jové-Casals family, with Josep Maria Jové one of the winery’s associate vinegrowers. The estate is located in the Les Sorts district, within the municipality of El Masroig, on a vast plain situated on the right-hand bank of the River Siurana, a much sought-after area from a wine-growing perspective, due to the prefect maturity reached by the Cariñena grapes. The estate only covers 1.3 ha, with the land divided up into two strips: one is set out on terraces, over a surface area of 0.55 hectares, and was planted back in 1978; the other lies on a gentle slope over 0.74 hectares, with vines planted in 1936 and 1956. They select the best grapes from the second plot to make this single varietal, ‘singular’ wine. (Production for the 2009 vintage stands at a mere 659 bottles.) La Carrerada is the youngest ‘singularidad’ from Orto Vins: 2009 has been its first vintage; a concentrated but restrained wine, muscular and full of nuances. A wine that requires a bit of time.