Priorat has been undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years. For several decades, the wines of Priorat turned up the dial regarding alcohol, extraction and oak, often including international varieties in the mix, too. As a result, the wines were often big and rich but lacking in regional character. The 2019 Terroir Històric Priorat Negre, however, is a fresh and modern take on Priorat, crafted by up-and-coming producer Terroir al Límit, a wine project founded by Dominik Huber (with early input from Eben Sadie) that seeks to revive small family-owned vineyards across Priorat’s nine historic villages. Unlike the Terroir al Limit single vineyard wines, the Terroir Historic wines are sourced from multiple small, family-owned plots in a quest to express the overall terroir and character of the region. This wine is a traditional blend of 75% Garnatxa Negra and 25% Carinyena, fermented in tank with partial whole clusters. The wine is then aged for six months in large, neutral concrete tanks — no oak, no additional extraction — allowing for a pure and mineral-driven expression. Now with 6 years of age, the wine balances ripe red and black fruit notes (pomegranate, black plum) with classic Priorat wild herbs and slate minerality on the palate. The wine is generous yet precise, following up with a hint of black pepper on the finish, and nicely integrated tannins. Despite its firm structure, the wine feels elegant and fresh, with a core of savory, earthy notes. This is a wine that beautifully expresses both the spirit of its makers — minimalist, terroir-focused, community-oriented — and the rugged, rocky landscape of Priorat.

I've always been a huge Rioja fan but, Priorat is a super close second. Especially affordable priced ones! The nose of this Terroir Al Limit is a bit more traditional with bright cherry fruit (with a light chalk note), dried orange peel and savory herbs. In the mouth, there are very fresh clean tannins, tongue coating riper cherries, minerals, and a light touch of sage. While the mid-palate coats, the finish zips and tingles the palate with brightness and length. A nice representation of different styles all rolled up into one wine that has an excellent price.

I normally expect Priorat wines to be fairly big and concentrated so I was pleasantly surprised by this juicy, elegant red. I was even more impressed to discover that this particular wine project is designed to encourage the development of local family owned vineyards as the grapes are sourced from numerous small properties throughout the zone. It's a very expressive and flavorful red that captures the essence of Priorat in a more elegant frame.