Terroir al Limit Historic Tinto Priorat 2018

Originally $29.99

Sale $19.99 net – Save 33%!!
Beats Best US Price by $5
93 pts James Suckling / 92+ pts Wine Advocate 

Terroir al Limit is, quite possibly, the hottest name in Spain. Each vintage, winemaker Dominik Huber ratchets the quality up yet another notch. Supplies are miniscule. We were lucky enough to get in on the “ground floor” and have been able to maintain access to these prizes! We have a tasting coming up featuring some of his wines, but after the most recent Wine Advocate, I doubt these three below will be around!

Huber founded the winery in 2001 with superstar South African winemaker Eben Sadie. Early on, they felt that the prevalent model for Priorat - ultraripe grapes combined with extracted winemaking and aging in new oak - didn't do the region justice. They felt that the vineyards they were working with, and the terroir of the region was so unique and exceptional that a different approach needed to be taken in order to express their authenticity and quality. Earlier harvests, little to no oak, lower extraction and moderate alcohol levels... whole cluster fermentation with no punching down... all with an eye to revealing the world-class quality of their vineyards.Well, the results are off the charts, with ratings through the roof, but not just from one or two critics. The acclaim stretches across every publication, demonstrating that "refined and elegant" are not code words for esoteric and geeky! 

Unlike his higher-end wines, the Negre from Terroir Històric will always be a Garnatxa-dominated blend (75%) with Carinyena playing a secondary role (25%). Garnatxa makes for a friendlier young wine, and that is really the goal Dominik has with this cuvée. With a healthy dose of Garnatxa grown high in the Montsant and on clay-limestone soils, the profile of the Negre is lifted and enticing, floral and decidedly in the red-fruit flavor spectrum. The remainder of the fruit comes from Garnatxa and Carinyena grown on schist which provides freshness and minerality. Fermented whole cluster and with indigenous yeasts, the Negre is fermented then aged for six months in a 5000L concrete tank. 

Unlike Terroir al Limit, which was founded on the Burgundian principal of site specific wines, Terroir Històric is meant to showcase the complexities of the Priorat in its entirety. A blend of Garnatxa Blanca and Macabeu, the Terroir Historic Blanc is pressed whole cluster, and ferments and ages for 6 months in a 5000L concrete tank. Nothing added, nothing taken away. To quote Dominik: “The French have a very beautiful expression, they call it vin de soif. You drink Terroir Historic not with your mind but with you belly and emotions. With Terroir Historic you are hungry and thirsty and want to socialize because in the end this is the fundamental thing about wine, you share it with your friends and family.”
 
“It has a clean and explosive nose of red cherries, licorice and fine spices and is clean and focused, pure, really attractive. There is perfect ripeness, enough to provide flavors and aromas without any excess. The palate is medium-bodied with great balance and is pure, delineated and terribly harmonious.” WA

"A fresh and bright red with blueberry and slate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Tight tannins and a steely finish. Shows energy and focus. No wood. Garnacha and cariñena." JS

Or reply. The wine will be available Wednesday in Chapel Hill. Thursday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.