Welcome to the seventh release of the Vineyard Cellar Select Club! June has arrived in Denver and with it comes long, sun-soaked days, weekend barbeques, lazy days poolside, exploring our amazing natural wonders and enjoying some great shows at Red Rocks. This month's duo of wines was built for June in Colorado; a red and a white from Spain's eastern region of Montsant, just south of Barcelona.

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June Selections 

2021 Dosterras Montsant Vermell   &   2024 Dosterras Montsant Blanc  

Montsant is one of Spain's 68 DOs (Denominación de Origen) and surrounds the more well-known but much smaller DOCa of Priorat like a horseshoe. Here, soils, aspect and exposure are all much more varied than in Priorat but in general the region delivers wines that are similar to those of Priorat but perhaps a little more fruit forward and approachable, with a less austere character in their youth. Garnacha, Cariñena are the local stars for reds and are commonly blended with international varieties Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon although blends vary between producers and bottlings. White wines are produced in smaller quantities and are based on Garnacha Blanca and Macabeu, both also indigenous to Spain. Heavily influenced by the Mediterranean, the vineyards of Montsant generally enjoy relatively ideal growing conditions, with warm, sunny days through summer balanced by cool nights and elevation. In vineyards with higher concentration of the dark salte Llicorella soils (this is the main soil type of Priorat) the almost jet-black, rocky soils soak up the heat of the day and release it over night, resulting in more full-bodied, powerful wines that can be considered 'baby Priorat'. Conversely, In vineyards at higher elevations where the soils are more based on granitic sand and chalky clay-limestone, the wine can be brighter, fresher and much, much more approachable. Overall, the wines of Montsant represent wonderful value and offer various styles to match just about any palate.

Dosterras is a relatively new project, founded just over ten years ago in 2013 by 26-year-old Fernando Grajales, his family, and the rockstar team he assembled to craft wines that honor tradition, nature, and the terroir of the scenic rolling hills of Montsant. At Dosterras, there is a focus on honoring and respecting nature through thoughtful and rigorous farming techniques and careful attention to detail in the cellar. The team believes that great wine is made int he vineyard first, so each vineyard is farmed as best as possible with longevity in mind, taking into account the minute details that differentiate each vineyard site and demand slight tweaks in farming to coax the best out of each site. That philosophy carries through to the cellar, where the process is slow and gentle, relying on gravity to move juice and wine through the winery as well as to naturally settle each tank. A variety of vessels including steel tanks, concrete vats, eggs, and wooden barrels are used to help each wine express it's truest and best profile. Their 2021 Vermell is very representative of Montsant's reds: a blend of 40% Garnatxa Negra (the Basque spelling of Garnacha Tinta, a.k.a. Grenache Noir), 40% Carinyena (again, Basque for Cariñena, a.k.a. Carignan), 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on a mix of Llicorella, clay, calcareous and granitic soils was aged 24 months in French oak barrels before spending 12 months in bottle before release. Medium-bodied, with intense aromas and flavors of red fruits and black fruits over hints of cacao and balsamic that are held together by a frame of ripe, yet well-integrated, tannins and juicy acidity. A long finish completes the picture, representing the use of high-quality fruit and makes this an ideal wine for anything coming off of the grill or for late nights around the campfire. The 2024 Blanc is a fun addition to the line up at Dosterras. Produced at roughly 4-5% the volume of Vermell, the Blanc is a refreshing, textural white composed of 80% Pedro Ximenez and 20% Garnatxa Blanca (Garnacha Blanca, a.k.a. Grenache Blanc) aged in stainless steel tanks for 6 months with periodic bâtonnage (stirring) to impart a silky, rounded texture to the final wine. A perfect, elegant foil to the reds of the region, this is expressive, offering notes of white fruits and citrus orchards accented by herbaceous and mineral nuances that add complexity on the medium length finish. I can't wait to pull a well-shilled bottle out of a mountain stream to enjoy with grilled shrimps and tapas.