Region and Vineyards
Priorat's drama is written in licorella, the fractured, laminated slate that dominates these steep hills southwest of Barcelona. The 2022 Camins del Priorat is sourced across eight villages—Gratallops, Porrera, Torroja, Les Vilelles, Bellmunt, El Molar, El Lloar and Poboleda—capturing multiple altitudes (350-700 m) and expositions. The slate's low fertility and excellent drainage compel roots to plunge deep, concentrating flavour while preserving acidity. Mediterranean sunshine is moderated by sea influence and cooling evening breezes, sharpening the wine's line and fragrance.
Vines (15-47 years) are trained as bush vines and double cordon on precipitous terraces and costers. Yields are modest—around 25 hl/ha—and irrigation is avoided to honour site expression. The resulting fruit shows purity and lift from Grenache, structure from Cariñena, and detailing from small Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, giving Camins its signature interplay of brightness, savour and slate-borne minerality.
Winemaking
Grapes were 100% destemmed and softly crushed, then fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, cement and large wooden vats. A gentle regime of cap-management (pigeage) encouraged fragrance over extraction, with a ~27-day maceration enhancing colour and fine tannin without weight.
Malolactic took place in vat. Élevage was deliberately discreet—4-6 months in wooden vats and barrels (a minority new)—to frame fruit and terroir rather than imprint overt oak. The final blend in 2022 comprises 54% Garnacha, 11% Cariñena, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 6% Merlot and ~4% white varieties (Garnacha Blanca, Pedro Ximénez, Picapoll Blanc). Analytical profile at bottling: 14.5% vol, pH 3.55, TA 5.02 g/L.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Bright ruby-crimson with youthful violet flashes; limpid and energetic in the glass.
- Aroma: Red cherry, pomegranate and boysenberry intertwine with violet, marjoram and white pepper; a subtle hint of cocoa and graphite over cool slate.
- Palate: Medium-bodied, sleek and sapid. Silky red fruits ride on fine, chalk-slate tannins; a saline-mineral thread and pink-pepper lift carry through a long, tapering, stony finish.
Did you know?
Camins del Priorat was conceived by Álvaro Palacios as a democratic window into Priorat—an approachable blend from eight villages, made with native fruit and gentle élevage to spotlight place over power. Palacios, a member of Priorat's famed "Gang of Five," helped revive the region in the late 1980s and 1990s, championing old vines on licorella and site-transparent winemaking.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Charcoal-grilled lamb chops with rosemary and lemon—herbal lift mirrors the wine's garrigue notes; juicy tannins engage the char.
- Mushroom and sobrasada rice—umami depth and paprika spice dovetail with slatey, savoury undertones.
- Seared tuna with black olive tapenade—the wine's red fruit and minerality complement meaty fish and briny accents.
- Aged Manchego with quince paste—nutty sweetness and firm texture echo Grenache's supple fruit and the wine's saline snap.
