What makes this wine unique?

The wine is made from estate-owned grapes and organic farming. High elevation vineyards. Very pure and bright Mediterranean red. A wine that can age. Furvus has aromas and flavors that speak of a unique sense of place.

Rating history:

Grape:

70% Garnacha and 30% Merlot. The Garnacha vines are 15-45 years old and the Merlot are 12 years old. The grapes have an organic farming certification by CCPAE (Consell Català de la Producció Agrària Ecològica).

Pairing Suggestions:

A good pairing would be game birds like quail, pheasant, goose or duck, as well as roast chicken with garlic and dried herbs or roast pork tenderloin. Veal, pork or beef sausage prepared with savory herbs would also be a very good match.

Vinification and ageing:

The grapes are harvested and placed in small 15kg boxes for protection during transport to the winery. Each terrace plot, or bancal, is fermented separately in stainless steel tank. Malolactic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tank before the wine is aged for 12 months in French/American oak barrels, 1-2 years old.

Production:

1,660 cases are produced.

Location, Soil, Climate:

The vineyards are located in the Capçanes district of Montsant (Zone 5) at 550 meters elevation (1,800 ft), the most distinctive factor of Vinyes Domènech. It’s a unique place where the mountains that surround these vineyards create a vacuum of wind from the Mediterranean, making this “corner” a cooler, dryer environment than neighboring vineyards within Montsant. In addition to the windy condition, the altitude contributes to a remarkable contrast of day/night temperatures, which allows the Garnacha grapes to ripen at a slower pace, and gives them great aromatic purity. The soils are composed of clay, volcanic slate, limestone and Pinyolet stones, responsible for the mineral flavors of these wines. The subsoil is all limestone. The clay contributes power and volume while the limestone gives the wine expressive floral and fruit aromas, finesse and complexity. The area’s climate is High Mediterranean, markedly cooler than the Priorat region, situated at a lower elevation. The rainfall in this area is low (442 mm, or 17 inches, per year). The area’s climate during the active period of the vine from April-October is moderate (68°F).

Tasting notes:

Once again, I use the word ‘purity’ to describe Furvus. This time around I can’t find a better word to describe the experience. All I manage to write is ‘purity.’ To follow, I take for granted many impressions: spice, graphite, rosemary, blue fruit, dry cherries, bright minerals. Medium bodied. More precise and pure, and I am certain it will keep longer.
-Patrick Mata, Jan. 29, 2010

Alcohol Content:

14.5%

UPC Code:

810411014110