Venus de la Figuera, Garnatxa Negra 2017, Montsant DO, Spain

About Venus La Universal: Husband and wife team Sara Pérez and René Barbier (Fils) are the children of two of the great pioneers of the Priorat D.O., Josep Lluis Pérez of Mas Martinet and René Barbier of Clos Mogador. Sara and René are both very well respected vignerons in their own right, so it seemed natural that they should start a project together. For this project, they decided to stake their claim not in Priorat, but in the slightly sleepier D.O. of Monsant.
René and Sara have taken the goddess as their inspiration for this project. One of their stated goals is “to interpret femininity through a bottle of wine”. This might seem an odd choice for a bodega that elaborates Grenache- and Carignan-based wines in Southern Cataluña, but it makes sense once you taste. These are incredibly elegant, refined, sensual expressions of Montsant, with restrained alcohol levels and tremendous texture.

About Venus La Figuera: The Venus La Figuera red wine comes from one of the highest plots in the municipality of La Figuera (Tarragona). It consists of vineyards owned by the Cooperative of the same town that Pérez and René use to make their own wines in exchange for winemaking advice.

The Venus La Figuera Garnacha variety is planted in clay-calcareous soils at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level. Thanks to a Mediterranean climate with continental influences, the grapes ripen over a long period of time which results in a high concentration of sugar. The harvest is carried out manually and the grapes are selected in the vineyard.

Vinification: The Venus La Figuera grape is processed whole and with some stems. It macerates and ferments with native yeasts for a month in wooden vats and open 500-litre barrels. It then ages in amphorae for 18 months.

Description: Red fruits on the nose, mainly cherries, accompanied by a subtle mineral and balsamic touch. On the palate it is elegant, with the fruit returning to give the most delicate and fine side of a great Garnacha, with light acidity and citrus freshness.

ABV: 15%