About this WINE
Carignan
Carignan, as its name suggests, is presumably of Spanish in origin, from around the town of Carineña west of Priorat in the province of Aragon.
Carignan, also known as Carginano in Italy and Cariñena or Mazeulo in Spain, is one of the most widely-planted red grapes in France. Planting became widespread in France during the 1960s, when Algeria gained its independence and was no longer an inexpensive source of red grapes. Languedoc-Rousillon (Cotes du Roussillon, Corbières, Saint Chinian) is the bastion of Carignan in France, and it is also grown Provence, although it now gradually being replaced with more complex and characterful varieties such as Syrah and Grenache.
The berries are blue-black, with fairly thick, astringent skins.Carignan buds and ripens quite late, so it is resistant to spring frosts, but requires a long ripening season and warm climate. It is a vigorous grape, which can result a wine of dull character.
Carignan is useful for adding intense colour, acidity, and fleshy tannins to the archetypal Southern French blends of Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault. Few select growers have managed to produce interesting, distinctive wines from this grape by carefully limiting the vine vigour and the yields.
Old Carignan vines (over 50 years) on a combination of low yields and suitable terroir can produce magnificently concentrated and characterful wine. The best expressions can be found in Priorat.
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Description
Reports from Priorat at harvest time last year were doom-laden. September through to November was damp, with the garbinada (a strong south-westerly wind relied upon to dry the vines) oddly becalmed. This after a first bout of wet weather during flowering which caused coulure in many Grenache vineyards. Cariñena, which represents the lion’s share of this blend, seems to have suffered a little less.
Happily for us, however, the quality of Alvaro’s 2014 Camins del Priorat renders these climatic conditions academic. Perhaps not as rich as previous vintages, without the velvety texture, but with the same mineral backbone and sufficient density of fruit to keep its 14.5% alcohol in check. The label – flowers, crunchy red berries; pretty but striking – is apposite.
Will Heslop, Wine Buying
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