Clos I Terrasses, Laurel, 2020 - Magnum

Grapes

Garnacha, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage report

Catalunya in 2020 had a warm, dry growing season — hardly news for the region, but the heat was more persistent than usual, with very little rainfall through the summer months putting real stress on older vines. Those old bush vines that dot the Priorat and Montsant hillsides, roots digging deep into llicorella slate, largely shrugged it off; younger plantings in lower-lying sites struggled more. Harvest came in on the early side, and the key was picking decisively — growers who waited too long saw sugar levels race ahead of phenolic ripeness. The whites from Penedès and Conca de Barberà came out particularly well: fresh, taut, with real grip.

The reds show the concentration you'd expect from a warm year, but the better producers kept the alcohol in check and the fruit focused rather than jammy. Garnacha and Cariñena from high-altitude sites in Priorat have real density without tipping into excess. We find the mid-weight reds from Montsant especially appealing right now — enough stuffing to reward a few more years in the cellar, but drinking well already. The top Priorats want until 2026 or beyond. Across the board, this is a vintage that rewards producers who know their land well enough to respond quickly when the season demands it.