Mas d’en Gil achieves vi de finca classification

In a year of celebrations which sees Priorat estate Mas d’en Gil mark its 150th anniversary, it has also announced that two of its wines have been classified as new “Vins de Finca” by Priorat DOQ regulatory board and INCAVI (Catalan Institute of Vines and Wines).

Mas d’en Gil’s wines Coma Blanca and Clos Fontà will join its Clos Mogador and Vall Llach which are already recognised by the Priorat DOQ.

Coma Blanca is produced using grapes from two vineyards planted with Garnacha Blanca and two planted with Macabeo/Viura – the Viura vineyards were both planted between 1941 and 1945. The wine spends six months in 500 litre barrels before being aged in bottle for 18 months before release.

Clos Fontà, meanwhile, is made from grapes grown in two vineyards planted with old vine Garnacha and Carignan, planted between 1931 and 1970. It spends 14 months ageing in 1,500 litre and 225 litre barrels and is aged in bottle for three years before release.

The vi de finca classification goes beyond that of the vi de villa in that more rigorous production and processing requirements must be met. Maximum yields permitted are 15% lower than for DO wines, while all wines must be made from grapes grown, processed, bottled and aged in the estate’s cellars.

The wines should also have both achieved and sustained a confirmed quality standard for a minimum of 10 years.

Mas d’en Gil, located in Bellmunt del Priorat, was established in 1867 by enologist and businessman Francesc Gil. In 1931, the Barril family took over the winery under the brand name Masia Barrill. In 1998, the estate was acquired by the Rovira Carbonell family who restored the original name and released the first wines under the brand name Mas d’en Gil in 2000.

The family’s youngest daughter, Marta Rovira Carbonell, joined the business in 2005, later introducing biodynamics to the estate.