Clos Figueras Serras del Priorat Tinto 2023
(Priorat, Spain) - [WA 91]

About the Winery:
Clos Figueras is a boutique Priorat estate founded in 1997 by Christopher Cannan, located just north of Gratallops on classic llicorella (schist) soils that define the region’s powerful, mineral-driven wines. The 18-hectare property includes old-vine Carignan and Grenache alongside newer plantings of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier, with vineyard care and winemaking overseen by René Barbier’s renowned team.

Much of the property’s original Carignan and Grenache parcels are decades old, offering naturally low yields and concentrated fruit character, while newer plantings from the late 1990s and early 2000s broaden the estate’s varietal complexity.

The organic grapes are harvested by hand to maintain fruit integrity. In the cellar, the team employs techniques influenced by both Priorat tradition and Rhône Valley sensibilities, including selective use of French oak and, in some cases, barrel fermentation that adds depth and texture to the wines. Their approach prioritizes purity of site expression: low yields, careful grape sorting, and restrained élevage that allows the region’s mineral-rich terroir to shine through. This philosophy, coupled with thoughtful replanting and ongoing vineyard stewardship, underscores Clos Figueras’ commitment to producing powerful yet balanced wines that reflect the uniqueness of Priorat.

About this Wine:
Serras del Priorat Tinto is crafted from a blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all hand-harvested in small 15kg boxes before undergoing a second selection at the winery to ensure optimal quality. The fruit ferments in temperature-controlled 2,500-liter tanks with daily pigeage, followed by a two-week maceration and a gentle vertical pressing of the lees. The wine is then aged for seven months in second-year French oak barrels of 500 liters, allowing subtle complexity without overt oak influence. Sourced from the steep, mineral-rich slopes of Priorat, it reflects the region’s hallmark intensity and depth. In the glass, it shows an intense dark red color with blue hues, offering primary aromas of red fruits layered with touches of caramel, minerality, vanilla, and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is fresh and broad, finishing long and expressive with a mineral aftertaste and lingering notes of fruit and savory Mediterranean spices such as rosemary and lavender.

Ratings & Reviews

91 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The red 2023 Serras del Priorat was produced with a blend of Garnacha, Cariñena and Syrah fermented in stainless steel and matured in 500-liter French oak barrels. It has a nose of ripe berry fruit, aromatic Mediterranean herbs and a touch of sweet spices. It comes in at 15% alcohol, but it does not feel alcoholic; it's quite balanced and fine-boned. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024." – Luis Gutierrez (May 2025)