Merum Priorati
Merum Priorati is one of the most important wine estates in Priorat. As this is one of the wildest, rugged terrains where few vines thrive and those that do produce very small yields. The wines of Merum Priorati are consistently highly rated and among the finest in the region. They were awarded the #4 selection in Wine Spectator’s Top 10 Wines of 2021 for their exceptional 95 Point Destí from the 2018 vintage. The estate only produces three main expressions: El Cel, Inici & Destí. Each delivers intense and serious complexity against a backdrop of bright and vibrant modern fruit. These special wines are only available in limited quantities.
Merum Priorati is an exceptional estate, founded in 2004 by two Catalan families, and located in the east of the appellation around the pretty village of Porrera. The three vineyard plots (Les Foreses, Plana Marjot and Les Escomelles) cover a total of 103 hectares, but just 29ha are given over to vines, which produce less than 1 kg of grapes per vine (and as low as 250g per vine for the older Garnacha and Cariñena plants). Vineyards here are not measured in hectares, but by the number of vines planted, due to extreme terracing and contours on stunning mountainsides. Here there isn’t soil per say, just a carpet of broken black slate called Licorella. Five grape varieties still manage to excel here on the estate: Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Impeccably made but not over polished, these wines are truly handmade and fermented in small, open top vats with long macerations. These are artisanal wines of the highest caliber, they are a journey of exploration and adventure.
