Description
Priorat, Spain
Costerduo is a tiny wine estate and an artisanal project inspired by a passion for the Priorat region in Catalonia, and its authentic winemaking and viticulture tradition. They have worked with their own “singular” vineyards since 2016 in a constant search for the perfect expression of the extraordinary terroir of Priorat and only employing eco-friendly, organic practices
PI*NOU is a fresh and lighter style of Priorat, a blend of 51% Grenache and 49% Carignan grapes sourced from three small, organically farmed plots in Poboleda on the high altitude slopes of ‘Llicorella’ slate stone soils
Highly limited production, with only around 4,000 bottles made
Grapes hand-picked in 20-kg boxes with a careful selection, destemming with almost no crushing. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in small stainless steel ‘inox tanks’ with minimal extra maceration. After a very gentle pressing only the free-run juice had a malolactic fermentation. There was then a year of rest in inox; though with one tenth of the wine had 12 months of ageing in a mix of new and used French oak barrels. Carbonic maceration occurs in the final blending to enhance vibrant, fruit-forward aromatics, lower tannins, and reduce acidity.
Costerduo’s estate is formed by three traditional vineyards in Torroja del Priorat, Escaladei and Poboleda, 1.9ha in total. Two of the three vineyards possess almost century-old vines in authentic ‘costers’ – old vineyards planted on very steep hills of crumbled slate.
Most of the vines are not trained, mainly of native Carignan variety, and grow like a bush vine on poor slate stone soils called ‘llicorella’. This type of soil barely retains any nutrients and water leading to relatively high concentrations of phenolics in grape skin, making together with Mediterranean and Priorat’s specific microclimate our red wines so unique.
Tasting Notes: Medium to deep ruby red colour. A fine nose of fresh black and red fruit, balsamic and spicy hints and tangerine zest, with a back note of Mediterranean herbs and earthy aromas. The medium body has a marked acidity with fine, round and silky tannins on the palate; a long persistent finish evolves with more acidity and tannins.
