Herencia Altés
Herencia Altés is a family estate currently run by owner and winemaker Nuria Altés. Their 30 hectares of vineyard, which have been in the family for over 100 years, are located in DO Terra Alta, in the southeastern corner of Catalonia and boast some of the oldest vines in Spain...
They previously supplied fruit to the co-operative in Batea, where Nuria was the commercial manager, but from 2010 she decided to start making her own wines, focusing on the major native grape varieties, Garnacha (or Garnatxa, as it is known locally) Blanca and Negra. Nuria’s aim with these wines is “to put Terra Alta on the map and show the true quality of these wonderful old vines.” Something we believe she has done with great success!
Vineyards
The vineyards are all located within the municipality of Batea. The largest and oldest vineyard is Benufet, which is situated in one of the highest areas of Batea, at 450m above sea level. Soils here are clay with calcareous content. The climate is Mediterranean with a marked continental influence bringing cold winters. The dominant winds are the "Cerç", a north westerly and the "Garbi", a fresh sea breeze.
Vintage information
Harvest for the Garnatxa Blanca began in last week of August. It was a very dry year with a warm summer and very low rainfall (around 300mm). Excellent vineyard maintenance improved the health of the vines and grapes. Very low production levels were achieved, totalling between 30-40% less than the previous year. Grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness and the resulting wines were concentrated, fresh and very mineral.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested by hand from vines of different ages, some very old, some younger, in order to achieve complexity and balance. A second selection took place on arrival at the winery before a period of skin contact and pressing in a small wooden vertical press which ensured only the best juice was captured. Fermentation followed at low temperatures to ensure the varietal character of the Garnatxa Blanca was retained as far as possible. The wine spent a further two months on fine lees to gain texture and complexity.
Tasting Notes
A very aromatic, tropical wine with notes of melon and white fruits on the nose. On the palate, the wine is balanced, medium-bodied with nice crisp freshness on the finish.
Vintage information
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Grape varieties |
100% Grenache Blanc |
| Region | Terra Alta, Cataluña |
| Winemaker | Nuria Altés |
| Alcohol (ABV) | 12.5% |
| Acidity | 4.9g/l |
| Residual Sugar | 0.24g/l |
Trade customers
Liberty Wines customers can order this wine directly from us.