Joan d'Anguera 'Les Maiols' 2024

The Anguera family has been farming in Montsant for seven generations. Siblings Joan and Josep ripped up the rulebook about ten years ago and started to farm biodynamically. They top-grafted traditional varieties like Garnacha and Carignan onto the existing Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon vines their father had introduced to the region. They moved to whole cluster ferments, old oak, and dramatically reduced sulphur. The results are mind-blowing. Balanced, elegant biodynamic wines.

They're very inspired by Château Rayas. In recent harvests, they've decided to wait. They leave the grapes on the vines until basically October. This sounds crazy. More sugar, more potential alcohol. They lose part of the harvest because some grapes become raisins. Other weather threats. But the reality is that things get pretty intense inside those little Garnacha berries as time goes by. The wines end up with a unique concentration I haven't felt with many others, especially in Montsant.

Les Maiols is made from their younger vines of Garnacha, so it's the entry point. It's perfumed, crunchy, beautifully floral. A Montsant vin de soif. Savoury and spicy, with this special smell of rosemary that sticks with you. I really love this wine.