On the slopes of Priorat, Mas Doix cultivates 42 acres (17 ha) of vines in iconic Licorella soil with a timeless bedrock of slate. The estate focuses on producing classic expressions with fruit from centennial plantings of Cariñena and Garnacha. With a recently built winery designed with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind, Mas Doix now stands poised to continue its long legacy of making unexpectedly elegant, fresh wines with the classic character of Priorat.
CLIMATE: Mediterranean:cold,drywinters andrainysprings;dry,warmsummers,with greatthermalcontrastbetweendayandnight
ELEVATION: 820-2,132feet (250-650m)
SOILS: Predominantlydecomposedslateand shale,locallyknownas licorella
CLASS: DOQPriorat
Valentí and Ramon Llagostera arrived in Poboleda because of family ties with the Doix family. While harvesting the 110-year-old Garnacha and Cariñena vines in October 1998, the Llagosteras approached the Doix family about making wine with the grapes that were taken to the Poboleda Cooperative. Winemaking started in a small winery in 1999, Mas Doix’s first vintage. The Llagosteras acquired the Doix share of the project in 2015, and in 2019 went into partnership with the Cliff Lede family, owners of the eponymous winery in Stag’s Leap, Napa Valley. A new winery outside the village of Poboleda was inaugurated a year later.
VINE: 59acres(24ha),with30acres (13ha)GPEapproved;soxprincipalsites
KEY VARIETALS: Cariñena, Garnacha,GarnachaBlanca,Macabeo
ECO: Certifiedorganicandbiodynamic practices
INNOVATE: Experimentalirrigation system
Since the beginning of the winery in 1998, co-founders Ramon and Valentí Llagostera have defined the style and characteristics of the wines produced, which from the very first moment on aim at reflecting the terroir of Priorat and Poboleda in particular. Gradually creating a greatteamwithJordiJutglarasdirectorofviticultureand SergiBatetaswinemaker.
Winemakers: RamonandValentíLlagostera
powered by an autonomous power generating system and rainwater collection facilities. They also installed a wastewater treatment plant. All vineyards are organic and guided by biodynamic practice, such as following the lunar phases. Biodiversity efforts include planting of olive, hazelnut and native fruit trees. The entire river area is protected to allow birds, fish, amphibians andsmallmammalsintheareatoflourish.
Mas Doix has six vineyards throughout Poboleda. Each has different exposures and soil composition, depending on its proximitytotheSiuranariver.At1,125feet(340m)abovesealevel,itisoneofthecoldestmicroclimatesinPriorat.
Located in the northeastern part of Priorat, Poboleda has lower average temperatures and a higher average rainfall than the rest of the municipalities. Of note are the sharp diurnal temperature shifts. During the summer months, temperatures can drop to 54º F (12ºC), while theycanalsoclimbtohighsof104ºF(40ºF).
There are few vineyards planted on soils as ancient as those of the Priorat. Two different types dominate: licorella on the steep slopes formed by the disintegration of slate, and alluvial deposits in flatter areas. The decomposed slate strata have siliceous materials and limestone cements, not calcareous. The soils are slightly acid,withaneutralpH.
FACT: After the arrival of phylloxera in the 19th century, entire vineyards had to be replanted. Mas Doix’s “1902” bottling is sourced from 115-year-old vines from that early 20th century recovery effort.
VINEYARD EXPRESSION
Due to the great variability of growing sites, there is strong vineyard identity in the wines of Mas Doix. From old-vine Garnacha growing on hillsides to high exposure terraces of Cariñena, each plot shows remarkable specificity matched to the most appropriate varietal. For example, the Tossal d’en Bou vineyard has been declared a Gran Vinya Classificada (GrandCru)withthenewvineyard’sclassificationinDOQPriorat.Locatedbetween1,476and1,640feet(450and500m) of altitude with southern orientation, it provides extended ripening time for Cariñena. The results are an excellent balance betweenacidityandphenolicripening. Otherwise,thebestPrioratvineyardsfacenorthsothattheyarenotroastedbythe late-afternoon sun. With almost no summer rainfall and zero irrigation, yields are incredibly low—as little as four or five fist-sizedbunchespervine.
MINIMAL INTERVENTION VINIFICATION
All fruit is harvested by hand with minimal manipulation in the cellar. Selection happens three times: first in the field, then as the fruit arrives at the winery, and finally after destemming. These methods allow Mas Doix to preserve the essence of thegrapeandgrowingsite.Limitedyieldsresultinfreshandelegantwineswithasubtleminerality.
MasDoixfarms100-year-oldGarnacha and Cariñena vines. Old vine fruit is prized for healthy root structure and spectacularconcentration.
The soil is mostly decomposed slate and shale, with very little organic material. This composition facilitates drainage and is porous enough to allow vine roots to reach deeper than anywhere else on earth. This slate soil shows in the wine as a pronounced minerality typical of many wines of the Priorat. Since the soils are slightly acidic, there is tension and verticality to the wines. Stress due to the lack of organic matter produces concentrated grapes with extremelyhighphenolicmaturity.
The winds also play a factor in the vineyards. Usually, the main winds blow from the northwest. This dry wind is known as El Sereno and originates from the interior of Spain.
considerably lessens the effects of the hottest summer days, maintaining freshness in the wines and theexpressionofterroir.
The vineyards are located in the coolest part of the Priorat. Mas Doix’s new winery permits them to be self-sufficient, without the need for external energy andwatersupplies.
Why is Mas Doix a Grandes Pagos de España winery?
Grapes grown exclusively on steep with very low yields of 10.5 ounces of grapes per
