Samsara Priorat 2021

• Origin and appellation

Samsara Priorat 2021 is made from a selection of vineyards across Priorat, with Grenache and Carignan sourced primarily from Gratallops, Escaladei, and Poboleda, in a landscape defined by steep slopes and llicorella, the characteristic slate soil that shapes much of the scenery and personality of the wines from the appellation. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and limited rainfall, in an environment where the vines must send their roots deep into poor soils in search of water and nutrients.

• Grape varieties
  

50% Grenache · 35% Carignan · 10% Syrah · 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grenache and Carignan form the heart of Samsara, complemented by small proportions of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a Priorat designed to combine ripe fruit, freshness, minerality, and structure in a modern and approachable style. It is a wine that seeks to showcase the typicity of Priorat while maintaining an inviting, contemporary expression.

• Winemaking and aging

The grapes are harvested by hand into 15 kg crates when they reach optimal ripeness. Once at the winery, they are gently cooled before undergoing careful selection on a sorting table.

Fermentation with selected yeasts at controlled temperatures lasts approximately 20 days, with daily open pump-overs during fermentation and gentle pigeage during maceration. Blending and malolactic fermentation take place in stainless-steel tanks.

Samsara is subsequently aged for approximately 12 months in French and American oak barrels and 1,150-liter micro-oxygenation egg-shaped vessels, combining traditional methods with contemporary techniques to preserve the fruit, freshness, and mineral character.

• Producer profile

Samsara Priorat was founded in 2013 as a joint project involving the Vives brothers, associated with Trossos del Priorat and Terra Dominicata; winemaker Eva Escudé; and brothers Toni and Miquel Coca i Fitó. The objective is very clear: to produce a quality Priorat that serves as a gateway to the character of DOQ Priorat, showcasing its fruit, minerality, and landscape through a modern and approachable interpretation.

• Production details

The name Samsara comes from Indian philosophy and refers to the cyclical connection between human beings and nature. This idea serves as the guiding thread of a project that aims to bring the landscapes of Priorat closer to wine enthusiasts around the world. Viticulture follows organic and sustainable practices, promoting biodiversity and a restrained approach to intervention both in the vineyard and during the winemaking process.

Production is limited to approximately 15,000 bottles, according to the technical information provided for the project. Samsara Priorat 2021 also received a Gold Medal at the 2024 Premis Vinari, in the category of aged red wines.