Wines Priorat Terroir al Límit - Manyes - 2019

Viniou Reviews

Terroir al Límit’s Cuvée Manyes 2019 from the Priorat DO in Catalonia is a singular red wine expressing the best qualities of its origin. This cuvée is predominantly crafted from old-vine Garnacha (Grenache), typical for the region, sourced from steep, schist-laden slopes at altitude. The 2019 vintage offered ideal ripening conditions, enabling a harmonious balance between ripe fruit, freshness, and structure. Vinified with minimal intervention, the wine undergoes a gentle extraction to highlight purity and finesse, often matured in larger, neutral vessels to preserve varietal character and a sense of place rather than impart dominant oak influences.

Priorat, located south-west of Barcelona, is one of Spain’s most prestigious wine regions, famed for its rugged terrain and unique llicorella slate soils. These black, brittle stones, along with hot, arid summers and cool nights, push vines deep into the earth for water, resulting in concentrated berries with remarkable structure and minerality. The region’s viticultural history stretches back to the 12th-century Carthusian monks, but in the last three decades Priorat has risen to global fame, producing wines of remarkable depth and complexity that have redefined Spanish fine wine.

This cuvée’s intensity and elegance make it an ideal companion to roasted meats such as lamb or duck breast. The wine’s deep fruit and subtle earthiness marry well with Spanish classics like slow-cooked rabbit with rosemary, or escalivada, a Catalonian dish of roasted vegetables. For a local touch, pair with botifarra sausage or aged Manchego cheese, which will echo the wine’s savoury notes and firm tannic structure.

For greatest appreciation, decant the Cuvée Manyes 2019 at least one hour before serving to allow its aromatics to unfold fully. Serve slightly below room temperature, ideally between 15-17°C. This allows the wine’s complex bouquet – red cherry, wild herbs, mineral, a hint of graphite – to express itself best, while maintaining vibrancy on the palate.