It's easy to forget that the crown jewel of Catalan country, Priorat, is young. Barely 40 years old.

Which makes the work of (husband and wife) René Barbier Jr. and Sara Pérez – both children from families of the Priorat Five – some of the most exciting and important. Aside from Sara being one of Spain's most influential winemakers; she and René have seen the appellation's evolution firsthand, almost from the beginning. They believe that these old vines on surreal llicorella slate soils should be highlighted with indigenous varietals, organic farming and inert vessels.

They’re proving their point in a revived old vineyard, planted amongst oak trees in the heart of Gratallops – arguably the area's most important terroir. It's been almost two decades of reviving this site, the result being a deeply Mediterranean, stirring expression of Priorat.

If you like details as much as we do...there's more below ;)

The couple's work in Priorat is focused on ‘Bellvisos’, an abandoned plot in Gratallops. It’s an absolute labor of love as the vineyard is on a severe slope, all farmed organically with an emphasis on biodiversity.

The cooler, northern facing portion of the vineyard makes up the ‘Pedrer’ wines which includes an eye opening Rosato, a macerated white, and a gently extracted Garnacha.

The oldest, southern facing portion of the vineyard is what goes into carefully made, powerful wine. The focus is on hyper-local Garnacha Peluda and Carinyena which make thick skinned fruit, requiring patience in the cellar. Long maceration is matched with a very judicious release schedule:

2018 is the current vintage (and '16 is released with it below). A very special rendition of this place.

IN STOCK NOW:

2019 René Barbier-Sara Pérez Gratallops Partida Bellvisos Blanco, Priorat DOCa
A macerated wine from Garnacha Blanca and Macabeu. Elevage in 600L barrels. An aromatic, sumptuous wine of fennel pollen, ripe orchard fruits.

2021 René Barbier-Sara Pérez 'Partida Pedrer' Rosado, Priorat DOCa
Grenache and the seldom seen Monastrell make up this incredibly serious, non sulfur rosato. Fans of the terroir a limit wines will be able to chart a similar pedigree and profile to thr Pedrer Rosato.

2021 René Barbier-Sara Pérez 'Partida Pedrer', Priorat DOCa
The freshest red in the lineup from the coolest portion of the estate. Its Garnacha done whole cluster: started carbonically before being foot trodden and pressed off into cement egg. Red fruited but still with the spine of Licorella.

2018 René Barbier-Sara Pérez Gratallops Partida Bellvisos, Priorat DOCa
The Bellvisos is the heart of the estate and what started this whole project 20 years ago. Planted to the Catalan Garnacha Peludo, it's blended with old vine Carignan and makes a sumptuous, darkly colored wine whose power is derived by the slate and soil - not wood or pigeage. Fans of Hauvette’s Cornaline will love this wine - it's wildly mediterranean with olives, wild berry and gamey notes. A true expression of Gratallops terroir.

2016 René Barbier-Sara Pérez Gratallops Partida Bellvisos, Priorat DOCa
Same as the above, with an extra two years of age. 2016 was a superb vintage in the region, a year of concentration with freshness. This is a very serious wine, still tight and young after fermentation with 30% to 40% full clusters and maturation in an 1,800-liter oak foudre. Magnums arriving in 12 years...