The La Solana de Cal Grau Estate comprises some 40 hectares and is located in the El Molar area of Priorat. It is the second of our collaborations with the HEBE group (See Bodegas y Viñedos del Jaro in the Ribera del Duero section) and it is gratifying that chief winemaker Mikel Piñol is no stranger to the area, having not only been Director of the Oenological school in Falset for fifteen years but also a native of El Lloar, a small town two kilometres away from La Solana Estate.
He is consequently, understandably a great fan and proponent of the area's wines and committed to environmental projects into the bargain. Production of wine here is not easy as the climate is harsh, the 'soil' is composed of crumbly slate (licorella) and the vineyards consist of spectacular but costly terraces carved out of the steep hillsides. Small batches of wine from each vineyard are produced separately, in small tanks, to capture the nature of the different, individual plots.
These are subsequently transferred to the firm's underground barrel cellar where they are individually aged in French oak until Mikel has decided precisely how to blend them. This involves constant tasting and monitoring; and of course each year sees fairly different cuvées.
La Ninota is made with a blend of all the grapes available at the estate: Garnacha, Tempranillo and Mazuelo together with international varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah - each vinified separately and matured in oak for three months prior to assemblage. Les Ones, meantime, having won the International Wine Challenge Priorato trophy in 2005 represents a landmark in the region and is made from the oldest vines on the estate. The fruit is hand harvested in small boxes and undergoes rigorous manual selection.
This is followed by a pre-fermentation cold maceration for 24 - 48 hours. A traditional blend of equal proportions of Garnacha and Cariñena is complemented by 10% Syrah. The final wine spends a minimum of 13 months in new French oak to produce a wine of appreciable minerality and complexity.
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