Torres Purgatori, DO Costers del Segre

Description

Torres Purgatori is produced from grapes grown in the DO Costers del Segre, a DO for wines produced in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, which is divided into several separate sub-zones. The climate of Costers del Segre is typically continental, characterised by hot summers and cold winters and is influenced by the proximity of the Pyrenees range of mountains.

Familia Torres Wines has been making wine in the ancient Catalán town of Vilafranca del Penedès, southwest of Barcelona, since the 17th Century. It is this tradition combined with innovation, dynamism and commitment to quality that has put Torres firmly on the world map. They remain one of the largest family-owned and run wine companies in the world (there is also Miguel Torres Chile and Marimar Torres in California) and, under the stewardship of fourth-generation Miguel Torres they are committed to sustainable viticulture and green practices. Today Torres not only have vineyards in their home region of Penedes, but all over Spain in regions such as Priorat, Rioja and Rueda. In 2006 Torres was awarded European Winery of the Year in Wine Enthusiast’s Annual Wine Star Awards. The Torres family is also one of the founding members of Primum Familiae Vini.

Torres Purgatori is a blend of Carinena (aka Carignan in France), Garnacha and Syrah. Vinification is in stainless steel and the wine undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation in the barrel. Alcoholic fermentation takes around 7 to 10 days. After fermentation, the wine undergoes 100% barrel aging for 15–18 months (40% new French Nevers oak).

Why is this wine called Purgatori?

The wine is named Purgatori after the monks who, in 1770, settled at the Abbey of Montserrat in the els Desterrats property as penance. The area was renowned for its harsh climate and tough conditions. They were sent there to cultivate the land to provide food for the diocese and discovered a new terroir which would produce fine wines. According to legend, many barrels mysteriously disappeared; some say they were taken to heaven by the angels.