Grapes: Xarel.lo
Region: Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Vintage: 2022
Viticulture: Organic. Single vineyard of 80 year-old vines of Xarel.lo planted on clay and river pebbles. The vineyeard is surrounded by Mediterrenean forect, 200m above sea level.
Soils: Clay + Limestone
Vinification: Hand harvested, grape selection happens in the vineyard. Skin contact of 20 days, 20% stem inclusion, fermentation in stainless steel.
Aging: 6 months on stems + lees, 40% of juice in amphora, 60% in stainless steel tank.
Fining or Filtering: None
Sulfur: Minimal added
Notes from the Importer: Tanca els Ulls, situated in a small village southwest of Barcelona, is the project of winemaker Francesc Boronat who in 2014 took over the family's estate with the aim to recuperate the old vineyards formerly farmed by his grandfather. His mission is to valorise indigenous varieties, such as Cartoixa and Macabeu, to produce saline, pithy wines with a sense of place and personality.
Tanca els Ulls translates as 'close the eyes' in the local dialect and it is a reference to the grower's audacity to take a leap into the unknown and embark on the challenging project if resuscitating a tiny family operation - especially in an area where there are no other active wineries left and grapes have historically been sold to large cooperatives.
