Rotllan Torra Priorat Tirant(2003)

cariñena of 90 year-old coster
25% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Syrah
10% Merlot.

The wine will be available in May 2007 and its life expectancy is about 15 years.
The elaboration process is described below:
At early stage, the vines are taken special care of through yearly technical innovations resulting in higher quality standards while maintaining the craft and family-owned business values.
Prior to the fermentation process the crop, harvested on September 25, is quickly conveyed to the cellar where it is meticulously selected.
Tirant, requires a long-lasting fermentation, alternating peaks at 27ºC (bouquets extraction) with peaks at 29:C over few hours to get more colour. Basically, the colour extraction (polifenols, tannins) is achieved through a series of daily remontados, to homogenise the upper layer (hat) in the tank with the rest of fermenting wine, under identical conditions. When the fermentation in stainless tanks is over, the liquid softens in a controlled environment from 15 to 30 days.
Once this operation is completed, the wine is racked two or three times prior to proceed with the malolactic fermentation in brand new French Troncais oak barrels.
After an ultimate racking operation, the wine enters a 12-month-ageing process prior to the final coupage barrel per barrel until the perfect assembly is obtained 16.500 bottles of this particular vintage have been hand-numbered and 1.075 magnum bottles (1.5L.).

Tasting Note: Bigarreau cherry with blackberry edging, fruit marmalade flavours, minerals, liquorice, tobacco, toasted, smoky. Clean, tasty, powerful, outstandingly tannic and fruity ending with bay leaf notes, fairly consistent, fresh, vivid and well balanced; with noble woods and lasting and complex ending. Intense retronasal via with chocolate, eucalyptus, thyme and a major fruit-bearing concentration.

The wine should be decanted two hours before tasting to grasp thoroughly at its utmost intensity, and serve to 18ºC.    (hide)