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Clos de l’Obac Winery Guide
EXPLORE ALL OUR RECOMMENDED SPANISH WINERIES
Last updated: January 4, 2024
Winery Overview
Clos de l’Obac Winery, or Costers del Siurana, is a renowned Priorat wine brand. Led by the visionary Carles Pastrana, this winery is situated in the picturesque wine village of Gratallops, adjacent to Rene Barbier’s Clos Mogador. Carles Pastrana is passionate about his wines and regarded as one of Spain’s most charismatic wine personalities. Alongside Alvaro Palacios, Rene Barbier, and Josep Lluis Perez, Carles Pastrana was among the first to recognize the immense potential of Priorat as a wine region in the 1980s. However, his family had been in the region since the 1970s, exploring old vines and experimenting with viticulture.
Inspired by the unique combination of topography, soil, climate, and a thousand-year-old winemaking tradition, the founding families embarked on a project to revive the spirit of the old Carthusian oenologists. They diligently reconstructed the steep, slatey terraces, cleared stones by hand, repaired walls, and built access paths. As a result, the vineyards were rejuvenated, particularly the old Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Cariñena vines, some of which were over fifty years old; additionally, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah were introduced.
The inaugural vintage of Clos de l’Obac was in 1989, followed by Miserere in 1990 and Dolç de l’Obac in 1991. Wine professionals worldwide have since acknowledged the greatness of this Priorat wine family. The winery remains committed to producing the finest wines using exclusively their own grapes. Their continuous endeavor is to enhance their products, aiming for complexity, balance, harmony, and grace, which have garnered international acclaim.
The vineyards of Clos de l’Obac and their other brands, Miserere, Kyrie, and the elixir sweet red Dolç de l’Obac, are spread across various parcels. Notably, the expansive Mas d’En Bruno estate, featuring a 13th-century villa, holds one of the largest parcels and has been home to working vineyards for centuries. The vineyards thrive in this challenging landscape due to fertile soil and a microclimate created by the impressive Montsant mountains. Rising 1,166 meters high, these mountains act as a natural barrier, controlling the temperature in the area and protecting it from harsh weather from the north. The interplay of these elements, including the climate, mountains, and slate soil, plays a crucial role in imparting the distinctive character to Priorat wine. The winery in Gratallops is a small, intimate space boasting a delightful tasting room for visitors to enjoy. Carlos is usually around to share a story 0r two, washed down with a glass of his finest.
Wines produced
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Miserere
Dry Red. Blend of 27% Garnacha, 10% Cariñena, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Tempranillo and 10% Syrah, made with vines from the 80ha estate of "El Mas d'en Bruno", 14.5% alc. Extensive aging in French oak. -
Clos de l'Obac
Dry Red. Blend of 35% Garnacha, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 10% Merlot and 10% Cariñena. Made with vines from the following estates: Planassos, Les Comes, Vinya Gran, La Vaca, Guinarderes, el Camí de Lloà, la Capella and el Bellvís. 12 months in new French oak. -
Dolç de l'Obac
Sweet Red. Blend of Garnacha tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah. Made with grapes from an exclusive 1 hectare vineyard "El Camp dels Espills", a small property located at the bottom of the "Barranc de l'Abadia" valley. The unique microclimate allows the grapes to become fully ripe without any danger of botrytis. The fermentation and a long maceration both take place in new, French oak. 16% alc. -
Kyrie
Dry White. Blend of 35% Garnacha blanca, 35% Macabeo, 30% Xarel.lo and 5% Moscatel de Alexandría. This exquisite wine is cask fermented and aged for 6 months in new French oak. 14% alc. White wine to lay down. As only 3.500 bottles are made, this wine is definitely for collectors. Anecdote: The name "Kyrie" is old Greek for "God".
Winery Contact Details
Clos de l’Obac
Camí Manyetes, s/n43737 Gratallops
Tarragona
Email: [email protected]
Tel +34 977 83 92 76
Fax +34 977 83 93 71 Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
Priorat
Founded
1987
Area under Vine
1,500 ha, 50 ha own estate vineyards
Age of vines
10-100 year old vines, "En Vaso" and "Cordon Royat" pruning methods
Oak barrel origin
French
Winemaker
Isidre Sanahujes and Joan Jarque
Owner
Pastrana & Jarque
Production
60,000 bottles p/a
Grape varietals
Garnacha Tinta (Grenache Noir), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cariñena (Carignan), Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), Syrah, Merlot, Garnacha Blanca (Grenache Blanc), Cartuxá , Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Moscatel de Alexandría
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
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Garnacha Blanca
Discover the Allure of Grenache Blanc: Full-Bodied White Wine from Northeastern Spain. Experience the Richness of High Alcohol, Low Acidity Wines.
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Macabeo (Viura)
Discover Viura: Rioja's Prominent White Grape & Catalonia's Macabeo. Explore its versatility in exquisite wines. A must-read for wine enthusiasts.
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Xarel-lo
Unveiling Xarel-lo: A Key Grape in Catalonia's Cava Sparkling Wine. Discover the Intriguing Role of Xarel-lo in Spain's Sparkling Delight.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
Discover the irresistible allure of Cabernet Sauvignon—a worldwide favorite with robust, dark-bodied flavor. Unleash your wine journey today!
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Carignan (Cariñena)
Carignan is a red grape variety that grows mostly in Southern France, and is often used as a blending grape
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Cartuxá
Cartuxá is a red grape variety that is highly esteemed for its contribution to producing exceptional wines. Also known as Carthusian or Cartoixa, this grape is primarily grown in the prestigious wine region of Priorat in Catalonia, Spain. It is believed to have originated from the ancient Carthusian monastery, which played a significant role in the region's winemaking history.
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Garnacha Tinta
Garnacha: Spain's Red Gem. Akin to Pinot Noir, it bridges terroir and winemaking, crafting captivating expressions.
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Merlot
Merlot is the most cultivated grape in Bordeaux and closely related to Cabernet Franc
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Syrah
Syrah is dark-skinned and perhaps the most underrated of the 'noble' red grape varieties.
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Tempranillo (Ull de Llebre)
Discover Tempranillo: Spain's iconic red grape. From Ribera del Duero to Toro, it yields concentrated wines. Explore its synonyms and unleash its prowess.
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Winery Appellations
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More information
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