GRAPE VARIETAL
Garnacha, Merlot, Cariñena, and Syrah from mature vines (many 40–50+ years), each contributing fruit, spice, depth, and a supple frame.
APPELLATION
DO Montsant (Catalonia, Spain): horseshoes Priorat and shares much of its rugged landscape while offering outstanding value.
TERROIR
Terraces and slopes at roughly 200–600 meters on a patchwork of clay-limestone, gravel, and pockets of slate (llicorella); Mediterranean sun tempered by cool nights builds ripeness with freshness.
VINIFICATION
Varieties harvested and vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel with gentle extraction; assembled for balance, then briefly aged in mostly used French oak to polish texture without heavy wood imprint.
TASTING NOTES
Ripe black cherry, plum, and blackberry layered with cocoa, licorice, and a touch of smoked spice; medium-full body, lively acidity, and rounded tannins that stay smooth through a savory finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Great with grilled lamb or pork, romesco with charred vegetables, mushroom paella, sausages, burgers, BBQ ribs, and semi-aged cheeses like Manchego or Garrotxa.
Montsant and Priorat are neighbors and a classic example of how one neighbor gets all the love and attention of the winepress while the other gets politely ignored. The Priorat DOC has been the darling of hipster soms and wine publications for the last few years. The attention is well-deserved; the region produces excellent wine from a punishing landscape and climate.
Think of the Priorat as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Montsant as Gigondas, Vacqueras, Cairanne, Rasteau, and all the other villages that surround Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Wines in the surrounding communities often use the same grape varietals, share similar soil structures, and even share weather conditions.
The one thing they don’t share is the price.
The village of Capçanes and the winery bearing its name are located 100 miles southwest of Barcelona, 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. A long and proud history of wine growing here dates back to the Middle Ages. Cellars Capçanes was created in 1933 by a small group of local vignerons and now includes hundreds of families throughout the region.
Capçanes sources the fruit for Potente from high-altitude vineyards on south and southwest-facing mountain slopes. The low amounts of annual rainfall, extreme climate swings, and the barren, rocky soil make the grapes fight hard to survive –and that’s what makes great wine!
View from the vineyards looking towards the Capçanes railway bridge and the Els Guiamets reservoir
AWM 2018 Buying Trip
It’s always a great day when a favorite wine returns in a new vintage — especially when it’s just as good or even better than the previous release. After the fabulous 2016 and 2018 Potente from Celler Capçanes, I had high hopes for the newly arrived vintage. I’m delighted to report that it’s fantastic — the new arrival is close to a carbon copy of the last vintages. It has the same smooth and silky elegance that we all loved, with just a tad more brightness and freshness.
Knarled old vines at bud break — Capçanes vineyard — AWM 2017 Buying Trip
You’ll find a superb union of power and finesse in your glass. Aromas of roasted dark berry compote, wild strawberries, and forest berries burst out of the glass. Just like the wines of the Priorat, the gorgeous lift of this Montsant on the palate is the perfect foil to the dense, pure fruit. The long finish is a melange of dark berry fruit with hints of balsamic, chocolate, and a touch of pepper spice.