Item Number: 5900 UPC: 8437008409801

Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya Sub Region: Catalunya
Appellation/AVA: Terra Alta DO
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2011
Grape(s): 80% Garnacha White / 10% Sauvignon Blanc / 5% Macabeu / 5% Viognier
Type: Wine - White
Bottle Size: 750ml Pack: 12
Closure: Artificial Cork
Case Production: 400
Alc by Vol(%): 13.5
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Soil Type: 95% limestone and 5% clay
Elevation: 1,168 feet
About: Portal Blanco is an estate-bottled wine made by Celler Vinos Piñol with organically grown grapes in the region of Terra Alta, located south of Barcelona. To understand how Portal Blanco relates to the world of wine, it’s important to note that the birthplace of the Garnacha Blanca grape is Terra Alta. Today, Terra Alta’s beautiful panoramic landscape is home to 35% of the world’s Garnacha Blanca vineyards and 70-75% of those in Spain. Portal Blanco contains a small percentage of other grapes, but its essential identity is derived from Garnacha Blanca. This limited production wine is made in stainless steel tank to emphasize purity of fruit and terroir. Here, Garnacha Blanca makes a gutsy, full-bodied wine with a character similar to a red. 

Vinification: Hand harvested in the cool morning hours, the grapes are brought to the winery in small, 15 kg boxes. After de-stemming, the grapes are crushed and go into 10,000-liter stainless steel tanks. The unfermented juice mixes with the skins at cool temperature (4°C or 39°F) for about 8 hours to maximize the extraction of flavors from the skins. The grapes ferment with neutral yeast (from Levuline in Champagne), which is optimal to ferment grapes with high sugar levels. The wine is aged in stainless steel tank on the lees for two months. No malolactic. 

Terroir: The vineyards are located a few miles south and west of Priorat, within the Terra Alta DO (Zone 5) in Catalunya’s Tarragona province in northeastern Spain. The winery and vineyards are in the town of Batea. The vineyards are organically farmed and certified by CCPAE. 

Tasting Notes: Bright yellow-gold. Ripe pear and honey aromas are perked up by notes of candied lemon and honeysuckle. Lush and expansive, offering weighty orchard and pit fruit flavors and a touch of bitter herbs. Shows an exotic passion fruit nuance on the finish, which clings with impressive tenacity. This wine has the heft to work with the richest seafood dishes or strong cheeses. Portal Blanco pairs well with pan-roasted hake with almonds, plank roasted salmon or grilled swordfish with herbs. This wine also has the stuffing and acidity to compliment wonderfully intense, “stinky” cheeses like Valdeón and Serena, as well as flavorful and aromatic Monte Enebro, Queso Azul Asturiano and Morbier with vegetable ash.

89pts (2012 vintage) Wine Advocate 8/2013
"The 2012 Portal Blanco (100% white Grenache from an organic vineyard planted in 1968) exhibits attractive notes of quince, white currants and honeysuckle as well as a silky, full, vivid style with lots of body, richness and character. Drink it over the next several years."