Mas Martinet 'Menut' Red Blend, Priorat, Spain 2022
Mas Martinet was founded in 1989 by Josep Lluís Pérez, one of the pioneering group of producers who collectively re-established Priorat as a world-class wine region at the close of the 20th century. His estate joined Clos Mogador, Clos Dofi, Clos Erasmus, and Clos de l'Obac at what became the foundation of the modern DOCa Priorat. Today the estate is led by his daughter Sara Pérez, who assumed day-to-day winemaking responsibility and has brought a deepened commitment to biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. Sara has become one of the most respected voices in Spanish wine, known for making wines of remarkable transparency, freshness, and site-driven precision across a range that spans from the accessible Menut to the flagship single-parcel crus. Mas Martinet holds 22 hectares of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards around Gratallops. The estate also sources fruit from trusted organic growers in Priorat for the Menut, extending its reach while maintaining quality and farming standards.
- WINEMAKER: Sara Pérez
- FARMING: Certified biodynamic. All estate vineyards organic. Menut incorporates both estate fruit and purchased fruit from other certified organic growers in Priorat. Average vine age approximately 10 years for this cuvée.
- VARIETY: Grenache (Garnatxa), Carignan (Carinyena), Syrah, Merlot. Precise vintage percentages not publicly confirmed for 2022; blend composition varies by vintage. The 2015 was documented as 40% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 10% Merlot.
- TERROIR: Sourced from vineyards in and around Gratallops, Priorat's historic nucleus, on llicorella — the fractured brown-black slate and quartzite schist that defines the DOCa and is unique among Spanish wine regions. Llicorella's low fertility, high reflectivity, and excellent drainage force deep root penetration, yielding low natural yields and wines of concentrated minerality. Priorat's continental Mediterranean climate, protected by the Sierra de Montsant and punctuated by the cooling garbinada sea breeze from the southwest, creates conditions for concentrated but structured ripening. 2022 was a warm and dry growing season across Priorat.
- VINIFICATION: Grapes harvested by hand. Fermented in concrete tanks using a native yeast starter — a pied de cuve prepared from grapes harvested approximately 10 days before the main harvest. Slow, extended fermentation of 30–40 days without inoculation. No manipulation or equalization between vintages; wines are blended and aged as they emerge from the vineyard.
- AGING: 300L French oak barrels (older wood), 15–18 months.
- TASTING NOTES: Deep ruby with garnet reflections. The nose is expressive and mineral, with dark plum, blueberry, crushed slate, tobacco, and a lift of aromatic garrigue. The palate is full-bodied and structured with fine-grained tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, spice-inflected finish. Classic Priorat character — concentrated yet defined by the region's signature rocky precision rather than sheer weight.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Roasted lamb, braised short rib, wild mushroom dishes, aged Manchego, grilled pork with herbs.
Mas Martinet 'Menut' Red Blend, Priorat, Spain 2022
Mas Martinet was founded in 1989 by Josep Lluís Pérez, one of the pioneering group of producers who collectively re-established Priorat as a world-class wine region at the close of the 20th century. His estate joined Clos Mogador, Clos Dofi, Clos Erasmus, and Clos de l'Obac at what became the foundation of the modern DOCa Priorat. Today the estate is led by his daughter Sara Pérez, who assumed day-to-day winemaking responsibility and has brought a deepened commitment to biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. Sara has become one of the most respected voices in Spanish wine, known for making wines of remarkable transparency, freshness, and site-driven precision across a range that spans from the accessible Menut to the flagship single-parcel crus. Mas Martinet holds 22 hectares of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards around Gratallops. The estate also sources fruit from trusted organic growers in Priorat for the Menut, extending its reach while maintaining quality and farming standards.
- WINEMAKER: Sara Pérez
- FARMING: Certified biodynamic. All estate vineyards organic. Menut incorporates both estate fruit and purchased fruit from other certified organic growers in Priorat. Average vine age approximately 10 years for this cuvée.
- VARIETY: Grenache (Garnatxa), Carignan (Carinyena), Syrah, Merlot. Precise vintage percentages not publicly confirmed for 2022; blend composition varies by vintage. The 2015 was documented as 40% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 10% Merlot.
- TERROIR: Sourced from vineyards in and around Gratallops, Priorat's historic nucleus, on llicorella — the fractured brown-black slate and quartzite schist that defines the DOCa and is unique among Spanish wine regions. Llicorella's low fertility, high reflectivity, and excellent drainage force deep root penetration, yielding low natural yields and wines of concentrated minerality. Priorat's continental Mediterranean climate, protected by the Sierra de Montsant and punctuated by the cooling garbinada sea breeze from the southwest, creates conditions for concentrated but structured ripening. 2022 was a warm and dry growing season across Priorat.
- VINIFICATION: Grapes harvested by hand. Fermented in concrete tanks using a native yeast starter — a pied de cuve prepared from grapes harvested approximately 10 days before the main harvest. Slow, extended fermentation of 30–40 days without inoculation. No manipulation or equalization between vintages; wines are blended and aged as they emerge from the vineyard.
- AGING: 300L French oak barrels (older wood), 15–18 months.
- TASTING NOTES: Deep ruby with garnet reflections. The nose is expressive and mineral, with dark plum, blueberry, crushed slate, tobacco, and a lift of aromatic garrigue. The palate is full-bodied and structured with fine-grained tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, spice-inflected finish. Classic Priorat character — concentrated yet defined by the region's signature rocky precision rather than sheer weight.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Roasted lamb, braised short rib, wild mushroom dishes, aged Manchego, grilled pork with herbs.