Metamòrphika Macabeu Brisat

Probably not everyone knows that Catalonia, in the hinterland of the Tarragona hills, hides one of the areas traditionally best suited to orange wines produced using ancestral methods. In the municipality of Barberà de la Conca, the Costador Terroirs Mediterranis winery has the merit of having brought to light this heritage of ancient traditions, offering a range centred on risk, experimentation and uncompromising quality. Extreme soils, limestone rich in clays and slates, and unusual terroir, in close contact with Mediterranean currents. And vertiginous altitudes, with very old vines, some more than a hundred years old, reaching 850 metres. At the helm is an artisan of the vineyard, Joan Franquet, who organically and biodynamically grows a refined catalogue of rare grape varieties. And he has the patience to bring each piece to a microvinification in amphorae from 300 to 2500 litres, where he carries out long macerations on the skins and leaves only the autochthonous yeasts to work, naturally.

The bottles of the Metamorphika line, as a reminder of the amphorae used for vinification, are all made of ceramic: scenic and effective. Made from pure Macabeo grapes, a grape variety that has yet to be discovered, especially outside the Iberian peninsula, Brisat (Catalan for "orange") matures for about 7 months in medium-sized barrels after maceration on the skins and vinification in amphorae, in which 50% of the whole bunches of grapes are conveyed. A mountain wine, from old vines, it expresses itself with great balance and pungent acidity. On the nose it is fruity, with citrus, floral and sweet spice notes. On the palate, maceration enhances the sapidity and tannin, but also the structure, which emphasises the native character of the Macabeo and predisposes it to ageing.