W I N E N OT E S . . .
B E L L CROS
D R E A M T E A M I N C ATA LU Ñ A By Cassie M @Wineposter
Bell Cros is the name of the vineyard and the wine, and the beautiful valley in DO Montsant, Tarragona (Cataluña). It derives from “Bell”, which is Catalan for beautiful, and “Cros”, an old local Catalan word for valley. Bell Cros is a combined effort by a real dream team: Ann and Peter Skoglund, Swedish entrepreneurs who have assembled a group of local enthusiasts headed up by renowned winemaker Joan Asens. Their shared goal is to put DO Montsant more firmly on the map. Tarragona a lies just south-west of Barcelona, and if you head due west into the mountains you reach Comarca Priorat with its main town of Falset. The county (“comarca”) of Priorat comprises two intertwined wine districts – DOQ Priorat in the middle surrounded almost entirely by DO Montsant. Romans and Monks The earliest traces of wine production in the region were discovered at Marça, the village closest to Bell Cros. Shards of amphorae have been unearthed there in what was once a Roman settlement. But it was in the Middle Ages that hectares of vines were planted by monks who introduced new agricultural techniques that created an environment in which the vines flourished. Climatic Influences The climate of DO Montsant is influenced by its proximity to the Mediter210
JULY & AUGUST 2022
ranean Sea, but there are continental features too. Hot, dry summers are followed by cool winters with rain and the risk of hail and frost. The vineyards are between 50 and 700 metres above sea level. It is a barren and harsh environment where the red-tinged soil contains elements of chalk, granite, silica and sand. Local Grapes The main focus for Bell Cros are Garnacha and Carinyena grapes. They are typical of DO Montsant and neighbouring DOC Priorat. These are three of their wines… L’Amic 2021 L’Amic – Friend. The best way to drink and enjoy this rosé wine is with friends, old and new, comfortably seated in tranquil surroundings or in a vibrant setting watching people pass by. Put the wine in an ice bucket, take your time, sip and enjoy. Wine Type: Rosé Grapes: Hand-picked; 100 per cent Garnacha Negra Winemaker: Joan Asens Average Age of Vines: 27 to 68 years Tasting Notes: Pink crystalline salmon colour. Aromatically fresh with citrus,
