Embruix de Vall Llach 2005

The 2005 Embruix de Vall Llach has elaborated with 38% Grenache, 26% Cariñena, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 6% Merlot.

50% of the wine was transferred to 225l and 300l second- and thirdwine barriques of light- and medium-toasted fine-grained French oak. The wine was moved twice during the ageing period of 14 months.

The absence of significant precipitation and the persistence of extremely low temperatures during the first months of the year marked the start of the vine’s growth cycle, which began, slowly, in mid-April. May rains protected the buds but intervened favourably in flowering, finally copious, and clarified the typical variation between varieties and zones. Setting was optimal in all varieties. In contrast, weather conditions in the summer months were typical of the zone: strong night-day thermal contrasts, with sun and an almost total lack of rainfall. The lack of hydrological reserves caused a reduction of budding in many vineyards, resulting in small bunches with a smaller production volume. Sanitary conditions during the year were calm and without incident. The harvest began in early September, around a fortnight earlier than the year before, and finished on November 4. The year was quiet, marked by the lack of rain, with correct sanitation without incident, and with good phenolic ripening and production of a small, compact berry.

Only careful cultivation, well-managed microproduction, vinification differentiated
by variety and estate using low-volume tanks, and above all, the miracle worked by the Priorat region on both the native varieties and on Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes can explain the splendid result: Embruix, Catalan for bewitching.

Immediately agreeable, but with a repertoire of powerful gustatory and olfactory refinements, this is a wine that satisfies both the connaisseur and the casual consumer.