Producer: Celler de Scala Dei                         

Region:  Catalonia - D.O.Q. Priorat

Vintage: 2021                    

Bottle:  75 cl                                                     

Grape Varieties: 100% Carignan

Type:  Red wine Crianza

Alcohol Volume:  14.5% Vol

Serving Temperature:  16-18 ºC

Heretge is the new red wine from Cellers de Scala Dei, a monovarietal of Cariñena of limited edition. Just over 3000 bottles were filled in March 2018. This time, the winery's oenologist,  Ricard Rofes, works solely with the Cariñena, something more unusual because the Garnacha has traditionally been the main protagonist. It is a homage to the other Priorat, true to its origins, to appreciate the old Carinyenas planted in Costers that the  that the Cartoixa monks had already laboured for generations before.

Heretge is a terroir wine, with 30% whole-clusters fermented in open cement vats and matured in oak foudres for 16 months. Cariñena from old vines over 80-year-old vines in the Village of La Vilella Alta, sourced from three different “Costers” (steep sloped hillsides), Cap de la Serra, Parts de l’Ase and La Font. Soils composed of Llicorella and north orientation. A wine that reflects perfectly the typicity of the terroir of Priorat.

The Priory of Scala Dei, founded in 1163, was the first monastery on the peninsula and planted the region’s first grapes, for this reason the bodega is emblematic of Priorat. The current owners took over in 1973, and Codorniu purchased a 25% stake in the company towards the end of 2000.

Tasting notes:  Powerful yet finesse, very intense with ripe red fruit scents, warm and dense, rich dark fruit expression with distinctive spicy and mineral hints, licorice and aniseed notes, good balance and freshness.

Notes:  It is recommended to open the wine in advance to achieve its maximum potential. Ripe enough to drink now, but still a long way to go.