What makes this wine unique?

A $20 wine that drinks like it costs $45. Made with organic wine growing and estate-owned grapes. The wine is made in Terra Alta, just south of Priorat. It has a mineral, pure, silky and bright character. It will age very well for a decade or more. The wine is made by the fourth generation of the Piñol family.

Rating history:

Grape:

30% Cariñena, 20% Garnacha, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot. The vineyards are organically farmed and certified by CCPAE (Consell Català de la Producció Agrària Ecològica). Yields are low (24.5 hectoliters per hectare, or 3,500 kilograms per hectare), which enhances concentration and complexity in the grapes.

Pairing Suggestions:

This will pair just fine with a rare beef cheddar burger, and the wine’s fresh black and blue fruits will pair even better with a lamb or turkey burger with a slice of Yarlsberg. If you’re grilling sausages, go more toward the sweet pork and veal rather than spicy or beef examples. In general, white meats are good pairings with Sa Natura due to their inherently sweeter characters. This is also a good pair with dishes in mushroom sauces.

Vinification and ageing:

Each variety was hand harvested at different times, depending on the optimum ripeness of the given grape. After selecting the best grapes from each bunch, the grapes macerate with their juice for 4 days at 6ºC (43°F) for greater fruit expression. Soon after, fermentation is carried out at a temperature of 27ºC (81°F). Maceration and skin contact lasts for 25 days. Malolactic fermentation is performed, half in oak barrels and half in stainless steel tank. For aging, the 2009 vintage is aged for 12 Months in 300-liter French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels, 50% new, 25% one year old and 25% two years old.
For the 2010 vintage, the wine is aged in 90% French and 10% American oak barrels.

Production:

3,000 cases are made; 300 for the U.S.

Location, Soil, Climate:

The vineyards are located a few miles south and west of Priorat, within the Terra Alta DO (Zone 5) in Catalunya’s Tarragona province in northeastern Spain. In this remote region, the winemaking tradition dates back to the Romans, around the 2nd or 3rd Century. The winery and vineyards are in the town of Batea, situated at 356 meters (1,168 ft.) elevation. The soils are composed of 95% limestone and 5% clay. For climate, the average temperature from April-October is 67.3ºF. The hot day and warm-to-moderate night temperatures make Terra Alta a drier and warmer region than Montsant or Priorat. These conditions produce bright purplish-garnet hued wines with greater weight and ripeness than wines from other areas within Zone 5. The low average yearly rainfall of 16.3 inches is less than neighboring regions.

Tasting notes:

Sa Natura is certified organic. Aromas of licorice, minerals, underbrush, blueberries, blackberries and plums leap from the glass. This is followed by sweet, ripe, voluminous fruit with excellent density and concentration.

Alcohol Content:

14.0%

UPC Code:

8437008409832