Vendrell Rived "L'Alleu" Montsant Tinto '23

The Catalan wine zone of Montsant is neighbors with the more famous Priorat.  In fact, Montsant essentially encompasses Priorat. While there are differences in the two regions, and even within Montsant and Priorat themselves, this is a place that deserves more notoriety. The wines can be every bit as good as ones from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas in the Southern Rhône.

Josep M. Vendrell Rived is one of our favorite producers in the region.  His small family winery looks to make wines that highlight the two main grapes of the region, Garnatxa (Grenache) and Carinyena (also called Samso or Carignan). 

This longtime grower is also one of the region's most under-the-radar producers. He started producing wine in 2000, after working at the local Capçanes cooperative and originally selling the grapes that he farms. In fact, when he began making his own wines, the region had not been classified to Montsant DO, rather wines of the Tarragona appellation.  His vineyards, many of which are old-vines, are located in Marçà and Capçanes. 

Vendrell's vineyards are farmed organically without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. They are continuously plowed not only for weed management, but to encourage deep root growth. By doing this, the grapes will inevitably show the underlying character of the terroir but also be more resistant to drought. The winery of Josep Maria Vendrell is perfectly suited to his artisan stature. It is modern, but manageable by a small team.

L’Alleu is one of the estate’s very best red wines. Produced from 60% Garnatxa Negra and 40% Carinyena, from two different vineyards in the village of Marçà. These are old vines, with more than 50 years of age. 

The wine is fermented in tank before being racked into used 300-liter barrels for 12 months. The resulting wine is rich, with red and dark fruit notes, hints at cracked pepper and dried fig. A wine you can drink a glass of without food, or pair with savory stews or grilled lamb chops.