When Rene Barbier Jr. (Clos Mogador) and his wife Sara Perez (Venus Universal and Mas Martinet) brought the abandoned, very old "coster" (steeply sloping traditional Priorat vineyard) back into production, they thought they had purchased a plot of Carinyena (Carignan)... but to their great surprise, they discovered that 40% of the plot consisted of Garnatxa Peluda (indigenous Grenache). This grape ripens before Carinyena (Carignan) and adds more freshness. It was a coincidence, and a stroke of luck, because it was the final piece of the puzzle needed to bring the Bellvisos balance to life.
The Gratallops Partida Bellvisos Blanc is serious, subtle, and very insinuating. As with a Clos Mogador (or a fine white Rioja or white Hermitage), these wines have fresh oxidative notes. It's surprising that this doesn't feel at all like a warm-climate white wine; it actually exudes a wonderful freshness. It has a bright golden yellow color and a serious, mineral flavor, with a dry, mineral feel reminiscent of licking stones. Only 900 bottles of this top-quality wine were produced, and it's no surprise that if you've learned from your father, this wine is best placed in the Clos Mogador Nelin family.
The style of Partida Bellvisos Blanc is both powerful and elegant: structured, mineral, slightly oxidative, and complex , with aromas of dried herbs, citrus, quince, almond, floral notes, and a salty, lingering finish. Its structure and tension make this a serious gourmet white wine that pairs beautifully with layered, earthy, and Mediterranean dishes.
