Venus La Universal Dido Montsant Blanc

About

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. Practicing Organic.

Venus La Universal Dido Montsant Blanc is made with 50% Macabeu, 40% Garnatxa Blanca and 10% Cartoixà (aka Xarel-lo) grown on various plots of up to 70 years of age on limestone. 20% of the grapes are macerated on the skins for 24 hours and the rest goes direct to press before native yeast fermentation. 30% is aged in 3000L clay amphora and 70% is aged in old wood vessels of 300-4000L for nine months. “Prepare to be seduced,” say Sara and René! This wine reminds us of the fragrances of autumn, ripe fruit, nuts and raisins, seeds…an enchanting creamy texture with a long finish…

Truly beguiling!