Merum Priorati is one of the most important wine estates in Priorat, founded in 2004 by two Catalan families. The winery strives to offer high-quality wines with great character – wines that trigger new sensations and linger in the memory long after being tried.
Vineyards and Grape Varieties
The winery is located in the east of the appellation around the pretty village of Porrera. The estate has 3 vineyard plots (Les Foreses, Plana Marjot and Les Escomelles) that cover a total of 103 hectares, but only 29 hectares are given over to vines as this is one of the wildest, most rugged terrains where few vines thrive. The vines produce less than 1 kg of grapes per vine (and as low as 250g per vine for the older Garnacha and Cariñena plants).
Vineyards here are not measured in hectares, but by numbers of vines planted, due to extreme terracing and contours on these stunning mountainsides. Rather than soil, the terrain has what could be described as a carpet of broken black slate called Licorella.
Five grape varieties thrive on the estate: Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Approach to winemaking
Winemaker Roger Oferill's impeccably made but not over polished wines are truly handmade: fermentation is in small, open top vats with long cuvasion and the wines are intense and seriously complex against a backdrop of bright and vibrant modern fruit.
