2023 Venus la Universal "Dido La Universal" Blanco, Montsant, Spain
ABOUT THIS WINE
The Dido La Universal Blanco was born from intuition and the desire to make wine primarily from local grape varieties. According to Sara and Rene Barbier, this is the way to make good wine, as they strongly believe that grapes belong to the terroir (much like Pinot Noir belongs to Burgundy – it can, of course, be grown elsewhere, but then it will also taste different). The wine is a blend of Garnatxa blanca (white Grenache), Macabeu (Viura), and Cartoixà (xarel lo).
15% of the grapes are macerated with their skins in open vats for 3-5 days to create the "sourdough" (pie de Cuba) and thus acquire the indigenous yeasts. Another 20% is then macerated with their skins for 24 hours, and the remainder goes directly to the press. 30% is aged in a 3000l amphora (clay barrel), and 70% in various oak barrels ranging from 300l to 4000l for 14 months. The wine is certified organic, is grown and produced entirely naturally, and has excellent aging potential.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Husband and wife team Sara Pérez and René Barbier (Fils) are the children of two of the great pioneers of the Priorat D.O., Josep Lluis Pérez of Mas Martinet and René Barbier of Clos Mogador. Sara and René are both very well respected vignerons in their own right, so it seemed natural that they should start a project together. For this project, they decided to stake their claim not in Priorat, but in the slightly sleepier D.O. of Monsant.
René and Sara have taken the goddess as their inspiration for this project. One of their stated goals is “to interpret femininity through a bottle of wine”. This might seem an odd choice for a bodega that elaborates Grenache- and Carignan-based wines in Southern Cataluña, but it makes sense once you taste. These are incredibly elegant, refined, sensual expressions of Montsant, with restrained alcohol levels and tremendous texture.
The grapes for the wines come from an approximate total of four hectares of vineyards which are owned by four different grape-growing families in Falset as well as another small plot owned by Venus. One could call Venus a négociant project, but it is more accurate to say that it is a partnership between these four families and René and Sara. Venus is these small growers’ only client, so their vineyards are farmed in accordance with the rigorous ecological standards set by the couple. The grapes for Dido come from the Falset area, from vineyards with soils based on decomposed granite called sauló. These soils are poor in organic matter and they contribute to producing grapes with great ripeness and fruit flavors. The grapes for Venus come from clay-calcareous soils between Marçà and Guiamets. These soils encourage a slow, elegant and complex ripeness.
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Description
ABOUT THIS WINE
The Dido La Universal Blanco was born from intuition and the desire to make wine primarily from local grape varieties. According to Sara and Rene Barbier, this is the way to make good wine, as they strongly believe that grapes belong to the terroir (much like Pinot Noir belongs to Burgundy – it can, of course, be grown elsewhere, but then it will also taste different). The wine is a blend of Garnatxa blanca (white Grenache), Macabeu (Viura), and Cartoixà (xarel lo).
15% of the grapes are macerated with their skins in open vats for 3-5 days to create the "sourdough" (pie de Cuba) and thus acquire the indigenous yeasts. Another 20% is then macerated with their skins for 24 hours, and the remainder goes directly to the press. 30% is aged in a 3000l amphora (clay barrel), and 70% in various oak barrels ranging from 300l to 4000l for 14 months. The wine is certified organic, is grown and produced entirely naturally, and has excellent aging potential.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Husband and wife team Sara Pérez and René Barbier (Fils) are the children of two of the great pioneers of the Priorat D.O., Josep Lluis Pérez of Mas Martinet and René Barbier of Clos Mogador. Sara and René are both very well respected vignerons in their own right, so it seemed natural that they should start a project together. For this project, they decided to stake their claim not in Priorat, but in the slightly sleepier D.O. of Monsant.
René and Sara have taken the goddess as their inspiration for this project. One of their stated goals is “to interpret femininity through a bottle of wine”. This might seem an odd choice for a bodega that elaborates Grenache- and Carignan-based wines in Southern Cataluña, but it makes sense once you taste. These are incredibly elegant, refined, sensual expressions of Montsant, with restrained alcohol levels and tremendous texture.
The grapes for the wines come from an approximate total of four hectares of vineyards which are owned by four different grape-growing families in Falset as well as another small plot owned by Venus. One could call Venus a négociant project, but it is more accurate to say that it is a partnership between these four families and René and Sara. Venus is these small growers’ only client, so their vineyards are farmed in accordance with the rigorous ecological standards set by the couple. The grapes for Dido come from the Falset area, from vineyards with soils based on decomposed granite called sauló. These soils are poor in organic matter and they contribute to producing grapes with great ripeness and fruit flavors. The grapes for Venus come from clay-calcareous soils between Marçà and Guiamets. These soils encourage a slow, elegant and complex ripeness.
