Casa Gran del Siurana
The farmhouse locally known as La Casa Gran can be found on the outskirts of the town of Bellmunt del Priorat, on the banks of the river Siurana. It is a building with a three hundred years history.
It was previously inhabited by the Carthusian monks from the nearby monastery of Scala Dei. In the XII century, this monastic order introduced vine-growing into this region, which has become one of the most renowned regions for winemaking in the world today.
In the lands surrounding La Casa Gran, lands that previously bore witness to the monks’ solemn vows of silence, Cruor and Gran Cruor, two modern and elegant red wines were born, wines that nowadays vie for a prestigious position amongst the Q.D.O. Priorat elite
Denomination of Origin: Priorat, a small pocket of blackhills of volcanic origin where red wines of superb quality have been made for over eight centuries. Priorat is located in Tarragona (North-East of Spain).
The vineyards are scattered among eleven valley towns, and are terraced or plantedon steep slopes. The bedrock, called llicorella, consists of reddish and black slate. The climate is more extreme than most continental areas. There are cold northern winds, and the warm Mistral blows in from the east. Summers are long, dry and hot, although the temperature may fall to zero in winter. Average annual temperature: 15°C.
Average rainfall: 400-600 mm. Varietals: Garnatxa(35%), Carinyena (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%).Ageing:50% aged during nine months in French oak barrels. Graduation:15% vol.Total acidity:3,8g/l(t.a.).Volatile acidity:0.72g/l (s.a.).Residual sugar:1.3 g/lpH:3.68
Tasting notes
Gran Cruor 2006 offers the chance to taste an unusual Priorat with a base of Syrah grape, to test how this atypical variety in the D.O. adapts to the llicorella soils that are a feature of the area. The blend of Gran Cruor is completed with Carinyena. Gran Cruor is prepared with grapes from La Fredat, a mountainous terraced estate, with llicorella slate soils.
Gran Cruor was aged during 18 months in new French oak casks.
With a black cherry robe, Gran Cruor 2006 is an exceptionally intense wine, complex and intense on the nose (blackberries, vanilla, coffee, spices). It is creamy and round in the mouth, fresh and mineral, with a well integrated oak. It has a wide in structure. A deep, full-bodied wine. Tannins are smooth and delicious. Very long and intense after-taste.
