The Society used the Restaurant Abiss for the first time in October of last year and it was found to be so good that we returned again this year to taste the wines of Celler el Maroig.  Prior to the tasting, members enjoyed Freixnet Extra Cava in the champagne bar adjacent to the restaurant.   The tasting was attended by 65 members who listened to Vicente Montfort, the Alicante agent for Celler el Maroig, introducing the bodega and presenting the wines.

Founded in 1917, Celler el Maroig is one of the most important wineries in the Priorat region.   It encompasses approximately 500 hectares of vineyards, all under the Montsant Denominación de Origen.   The harvest is 2.5 million kg spread between the main grape varieties of Carignan, and Grenache.   The white grapes grown are Macabeo and White Grenache.   The ground is predominantly red clay, an important factor that influences the quality of the vintage.   The dryness of the summer, the poor fertility of the terrain, the mountainous landscape and the Mediterranean climate are also all key influences.  70% of the bodega’s wines are exported to 22 countries. The average points scored by members for each wine are shown in red. 

 

The first wine tasted was Solà Fred Blanco 2013, made from 75% Macabeo and 25% White Grenache.   The wine was a pale yellow with a nose of tropical fruits and Mediterranean herbs.   It was very fresh and round on the palate.   It has an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 12.5%, costs 2.95€ and the Guía Peñín gave the 2012 vintage 85 points and exceptional value for money.   Members scored the wine as 81.9 points

The second wine tasted was Solà Fred Rosat 2013, made from 90% Grenache, and 10% Syrah which underwent traditional fermentation in stainless steel vats at 16ºC.   Pink in colour it has fresh fruit flavours and is fresh and elegant on the palate and has a long finish. It has an ABV of 13.5%, costs 2.95€ and the Guía Peñín gave the 2012 vintage 86 points and exceptional value for money.   Members scored the wine as 84.3 points

 

Then came three red wines.   The first was Solà Fred 2013 a blend of 90% Carignan and 10% Grenache, which has undergone traditional fermentation in temperature controlled steel vats.   A young red with intense colour, very aromatic and well balanced with a flavour of ripe fruits.   It is fresh in the mouth, full bodied with a long finish.   The bodega states it is a perfect example of Carignan from the Montsant region.   It has an ABV of 14.0% costs 2.95€ and the Guía Peñín gave the 2012 vintage 86 points and exceptional value for money.   Members scored the wine as 84.2 points.  

The next red was Castell de les Pinyeres 2011 a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Carignan and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes all coming from old vines.   Traditional fermentation was followed by malolactic fermentation in barrels and then ageing for 12 months in French, American and Hungarian oak.   The wine is also aged in the bottle.   It has a very intense colour with aromas of red fruits and spices, lots of flavours in the mouth, balanced, intense and long.   It has an ABV of 14.5%, costs 5.00€ and the Guía Peñín gave the 2010 vintage 91 points and exceptional value for money.   Members scored the wine as 90.8 points.

 

Finally we tasted Les Sorts Sycar 2011 a 60% Carignan, 40% Syrah blend which expressed the mix of the tradition with old Carignan vines and the modernity with Syrah.   After traditional fermentation, malolactic fermentation was done in barrels with 12 months ageing in 80% French oak and 20% American, followed by ageing in bottle.   It is a natural wine that is not filtered.  The wine was a dark cherry colour, with deep very expressive aromas of violets, tobacco and red fruits.   First taste is smooth with character and the after taste is long and pleasing.   It has an ABV of 14.0%, costs 6.24€ and the Guía Peñín gave the 2010 vintage 93 points and exceptional value for money.   Members scored the wine as 88.2 points.

A vote of thanks was proposed to the speaker by John Sloggie