Description
Clos Mogador produces estate bottled wines in Gratallops, Catalonia, the DOQ Priorat.
The origins of this vineyard date back to the Romans.
Founded in 1979 by René Barbier III and his wife, Isabelle Meyer, the winery was part of a new wave of “Clos” wineries that released their first joint 1989 vintage to great acclaim.
René Barbier is considered the father of “Modern Priorat”.
He was the first to truly believe in the potential of the area to produce world-class wines.
They have gone on to garner impressive scores by wine critics and have built up one of the most well-known brands in all of Priorat.
The name of the winery comes from “Les Gens de Mogador” (“The people of Mogador”) which chronicles the rise and fall of a family from near Avignon in France on an imaginary estate called Mogador and closely parallels the Barbier family history.
The vines enjoy an exceptional microclimate as it is surrounded by mountains 1,200 metres above sea level. The Clos Mogador is an immense amphitheatre of crumbled slate (licorella) bathed in the Siurana river, rich in history and Moorish legends.
Tasting Notes
Grape Variety: Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, Cabernet
The 2021 Clos Mogador comprises 45% Garnatxa, 29% Carinyena, 16% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged for 18 months in foudres. Garnet in color, it features liqueur-like aromas of blackcurrant and plum, along with earthy notes and hints of iron and blood. Dry and compact, it flows with fine-grained tannins, a dusty texture and a juicy, flavorful mouthfeel. The finish is exceptionally long, with nuanced complexity. This is one of those rare wines that can shift one’s perception of what’s possible in the Priorat region. Clos Mogador is one of the few wineries that put Priorat on the fine wine map in the early 1990s, and the 2021 vintage is yet another example that justifies that recognition.
[97/100 Points – Joaquin Hidalgo – November 2024 – vinous.com]
