'Adopt A Grapevine' at Devinssi Winery in D.O. Priorat by Philip S. Kampe

                             Winemaker and Founder of Devinssi Winery, Josep Roca

There is a wine making genius, Josep Roca, the founder of Devinssi, a small, but hugely, important vineyard, which is located on the beautiful Les Planes estate, in Gratallops, the center of Priorat in Spain’s Catalonia region.

Mr.Roca is well known and respected throughout Spain and the world, as he has been an instrumental figure  in the wine trade for the past twenty-five years.

Josep has an MS in both Viticulture and Oenology.

In 2001, the first vineyards of the Devinssi Winery were planted,

Grenache and Carignan made-up the first harvest.

Business opportunities for growth arose in 2005. A second estate was acquired  by Devinssi. The acquired vineyard was rich with old vine Carignan grapes.

Seeking small acquisitions in the Gratallops area has been a long term goal of Josep Roca.

In fact, to create a link between his customers and the winery, Joseph and his vineyard are part of the ‘Adopt A Grapevine’ concept. The program is a direct link that joins wine lovers with their favorite vineyards, such as Devinssi.  

Essentially, the ‘Adopt A Grapevine’ theory is to familiarize the consumer with the region and vintner by offering grapevines for adoption. The Devinssi Winery program is a smart way for the consumer to adopt specific vines, visit the winery and stroke the vines, while saving on the DOC Priorat purchases.

In fact, the consumer can get customized labels on the bottles that represent the vines that were adopted. It’s a way of making a contribution to the cultivation of the vines, while receiving a discounted price for the purchase of the custom labeled wine.

If you join the ‘Adopt A Grapevine’ program you will receive an adoption certificate, and adopter ID and the right to purchase wine.

The vineyards are located in the village of Gratallops.

There are three different adoption programs, all of which can be found on their website: www.Devinssi.com

The ‘Adopt A Grapevine’ program is a smart way to do something unconventional. The program allows you the chance to see your vines grow, take part in winery chores and to get to know the local winemaking community, specifically Devinssi.

The wines that Josep Roca makes are Penin rated, small production and highly sought after by collectors.

My visit to the headquarters was a day to remember. Josep Roca is a soft spoken professional that invited me into his house to sample many of the wines he produces.


                         


                                                 2013 Mas de les Valls Red

                                                             2012 Rocapoll

These are my findings:

2012 Rocapoll (D.O. Priorat)
Production: 300 bottles

Alcohol: 14%

2016 Penin Guide: 92 ponts
The Carignan grape shines with expression throughout as this spicy, mineral-laden, velvety wine gains character from its own yeast aged in Allier oak casks. The intensity and balance of this wine will only grow as it ages.

2013 Mas de les Valls Blanc (D.O. Priorat)
Production: 800 bottles

Alcohol: 13.5%
2016 Penin Guid: 89 points
This pale gold, white wine, made from the Pedro Ximenez and white Grenache grapes explodes with intensity of smoky acidity in the palate, while a lingering herbal composite of flavors engulfs your mid-palate. Aged three months in 225 liter French oak casks, then in the bottle, this unique white wine is one of my all time favorites.

2013 Mas de les Valls Red (D.O. Priorat)
Production: 6,000 bottles
Alcohol: 14%
2016 Penin Guide:89 points
Aged eight months in French and American oak casks, this fragrant Garnacha, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon mix emphasizes a fruity cherry jam flavor with undertones of vanilla beans and sweet, dried, intense sugary figs.

2013 Il.lia (D.O. Priorat)
Production: 4,000 bottles

Alcohol: 14%

2016 Penin Guide: 91 points
This special wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Made entirely from a mixture of Red Garnacha, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this aromatic, highly-structured wine evokes the brilliance of the winemaker, Josep Roca.

The wines of Devinssi Winery are all specially handcrafted and made to be appreciated by all wine lovers who are looking for that special wine.

I am so taken by the wines that I am ready to ‘Adopt A Grapevine”

Philip S. Kampe

Philip.kampe@thewinehub.com

Jordi Domenech: Priorat's Busiest Winemaker by Philip S. Kampe

                                                           Jordi Domenech

                                                          Steep vineyards

                                                       Celler Jordi Domenech


Winemaker Jordi Domenech is bigger then life.

Literally, by day Jordi works for Miro, a high-end vermouth producer and by night and weekends he helps his wife run their Bar Restaurant, he babysits their young son and somehow finds time to work on the vineyard, preparing for the harvest and the wine making that follows.

The day that I spent with Jordi, I met his son, ate dinner at the family restaurant, met his wife, walked Finca Les Comes, his vineyard, went to his wine cellar, sampled his wines and had a glass of Miro vermouth at the end of a tapas dinner at his families restaurant.

Jordi Domenech is charismatic, positive, passionate and a true family man. His goals and aspirations are large and achievable. He is an impressive winemaker. Jordi, an oenoligist, gained his wine experience at various wine companies..

His fascination, as he says, is with the Priorat region.

In 2006 Finca Les Comes was created. His plots are located within the historic Priorat township of Poboleda. Historically, in Poboleda, vines have been cultivated from the 12th century until phylloxera killed the vines in the 1800's.

Jordi stressed that the vines he cultivates on his thirty acres, range in age from 5 to 35 years old. He has only cultivated  a small portion of his acreage and has many acres to grow his vineyard for the future.

All tasks are performed manually. The land is steep and hard to maneuver. Slate dominates the terrain, known as llicorella, the typical soil of Priorat.

Rainfall does not exist in the summer, where daytime to nighttime temperatures fluctuate thirty degrees Fahrenheit. With less water and nutrients, the grapes excel in the concentration of sugars, which enhances structure, from the low-yielding vines.

Finca Les Comes focuses on red wines. The two that we sampled, Petit Clos Penat and Clos Penat, were made-up of Garnacha and Syrah. The DOC Priorat wines are aged in French oak barrels from eight (Petit Clos Penat) to fourteen months (Clos Penat).

As a young winemaker, Jordi's talents exceed his age. The two red wines we sampled at his restaurant were made by a veteran winemaker, one that knows intimately, the grapes he work with.

Mr. Domenech is that  type of winemaker.


                                        

                        The French oak barrels in the Celler of Jordi Domenech

                                                      Petit Vlos Penat 2012

                                                           Clos Penat 2010

                                                    The entrance to the Celler

                                                      Jordi at the family restaurant
The Wines:
Clos Penat 2010
80% Garnacha  20% Syrah
Aged 14 months in French oak barrels
Alcohol 14.5%
Production: 2,500 bottles
An intense, concentrated, dark fruit forward wine that rolls its velvety texture off your tongue and coats your palate with a long, strawberry finish. There is a freshness and ripeness to the wine that is drenched with soft tannins and ample acidity. Cherry red in color, the aromatics suggest red raspberry, dark chocolate with an orange spice background.  Clos Penat is ready to drink, if decanted, but, would intensify in flavor if left to age 3-5 years.

Petit Clos Penat 2012
80% Garnacha   20% Syrah
Aged 8 months in French oak barrels
Alcohol  14.5%
Production: 10,000 bottles
A medium-bodied, brilliant cherry color wine that hypnotizes you with its fruity aromas of kiwi, red plum, red raspberry and banana, followed by a faint spicy milk chocolate fragrance. The palate comes alive with a lively mixture of red and black berries that sail motionless in the mineral laden, flavorful, persistent wine.

When asked about his wines at the dinner table, Jordi Domenesch stated that the Petit Clos Penat 2012 was created to be an easy, drinking wine that, in our lingo, could be considered a 'go-to' wine. He went on to elaborate that the wine can pair favorably with many foods, which he proved with the tapas dinner that was served to us. Courses ranged from potatoes with squid to meatballs in tomato sauce.

On the other hand, the Clos Penat 2010, according to Jordi was' a more classic style, with more complexity and more volume with a deep flavor. Although the same blend exists for the two different wines, when people see both labels, they think it is the same wine, just in two different bottles. The flavor is so different after they taste the two, they realize how much of a mistake they have made'.

Celler Jordi Domenech is a winery that is in the incubation stage, small and manageable, with growth in its future. His name is one to remember. He is bigger then life.

To learn more about the wines of Celler Jordi Domenech, visit www.cellerjordidomenech.com


Philip S. Kampe
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com