Joan d'Anguera Altaroses Vinyes Pròpies 2022
Medium-bodied red wine, crafted in a refreshing, elegant, low-intervention style that emphasizes pure fruit and terroir expression over heavy oak influence. · Celler Joan d'Anguera, a family-owned estate with a rich history in the small village of Darroba in the Montsant region of Spain, highly regarded for pioneering the transition towards biodynamic viticulture and a more elegant, Burgundian style of Garnatxa.
Vintage: 2022, a warm and relatively dry growing season in Montsant that required careful canopy management to protect the grapes, resulting in a balanced vintage yielding wines with concentrated fruit flavors, vibrant freshness, and structured yet accessible tannins.
Type
Medium-bodied red wine, crafted in a refreshing, elegant, low-intervention style that emphasizes pure fruit and terroir expression over heavy oak influence.
Producer
Celler Joan d'Anguera, a family-owned estate with a rich history in the small village of Darroba in the Montsant region of Spain, highly regarded for pioneering the transition towards biodynamic viticulture and a more elegant, Burgundian style of Garnatxa.
Country
Spain, renowned for its ancient winemaking traditions, diverse indigenous grape varieties, and an Old World approach anchored by strict appellation laws (DO/DOCa), balancing historic regions like Rioja and Priorat with a modern dynamic wave of artisanal producers.
Vintage
2022, a warm and relatively dry growing season in Montsant that required careful canopy management to protect the grapes, resulting in a balanced vintage yielding wines with concentrated fruit flavors, vibrant freshness, and structured yet accessible tannins.
Region & Appellation
Spain, Catalonia, Montsant DO
Grape Varieties
100% Garnatxa (Grenache), showcasing the variety's aromatic complexity, bright red fruit profile, and silky texture when grown in the mineral-rich soils of Montsant.
Color & Appearance
Translucent ruby-red with a bright, pale rim, displaying high clarity and delicate legs, typical of a minimal-intervention Garnatxa vinified with a lighter extraction approach.
Aroma Profile
An expressive, lifted nose led by fresh red berries, wild strawberries, and red cherries, complemented by floral notes of dried rose petals, garrigue-like wild herbs, and a subtle touch of wet slate minerality.
Tasting Notes
A vibrant and harmonious palate opening with juicy red fruit, transitioning through a mid-palate of crushed stone and Mediterranean herbs, and finishing with clean, refreshing length, lovely energy, and fine-grained tannins.
Flavor Profile
Dominated by tart red cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate, layered with secondary nuances of white pepper, fennel, crushed earth, and a subtle savory undertone.
Body & Texture
Medium-bodied with a silken, weightless texture that dances across the palate, exhibiting high freshness, low-to-moderate weight, and a polished, elegant mouthfeel.
Acidity & Tannins
Bright, mouth-watering acidity that lifts the fruit profile, paired with fine-grained, gentle tannins that offer just enough structural grip without any heaviness or astringency.
Sweetness Level
Bone dry, with zero residual sugar, balanced entirely by the wine's vibrant natural acidity and sweet-toned fruit extract.
Alcohol Content
Around 13.5% ABV, offering a moderate and well-integrated warmth that supports the medium body without feeling heavy or intrusive.
Aging & Oak
Aged in neutral large oak vats (foudres) and concrete tanks to preserve purity and avoid heavy oak flavors, allowing the pure essence of Garnatxa and Montsant terroir to shine through.
Food Pairings
Ideal for a warm summer evening, pair with grilled lamb chops, roasted pork tenderloin, charcuterie and Spanish cheeses like Manchego, or herb-roasted chicken, drawing out the wine's herbal complexity and bright acidity.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slightly chilled at 55-60°F (13-15°C) in a universal or Burgundy glass. No decanting is strictly required, though a brief 30-minute aeration opens up the aromatics beautifully. Enjoy young or over the next 3-5 years.
Price Range
Approximately $25 to $35 USD, representing exceptional value for an artisanal, biodynamically farmed estate wine of this caliber.
Quality Assessment
Scoring around 91-93 points by major critics, this super-premium icon of modern Montsant is celebrated for its purity, finesse, and departure from over-extracted styles.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested grapes, spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts in concrete and neutral wood vessels, gentle whole-cluster inclusion, minimal sulfur additions, and unfined/unfiltered bottling.
Terroir
Clay-limestone and alluvial soils combined with dramatic diurnal temperature shifts in the hills of Montsant, imparting distinct freshness and mineral drive to the vines.
History & Heritage
The d'Anguera family has farmed their land for seven generations, shifting the estate towards strict organic and biodynamic principles in the early 2000s, profoundly changing the stylistic landscape of Montsant reds.
Interesting Facts
Altaroses was created by brothers Joan and Josep d'Anguera to showcase a forgotten, historic style of Montsant Garnatxa—lighter, fresher, and more transparent—akin to a fine Burgundy or Northern Rhône wine.
Cellaring Potential
Approachable and vibrant upon release in its youth, this wine will evolve gracefully over 3 to 6 years, developing more earthy and savory tertiary complexities while retaining its core freshness.
Similar Wines
Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez Corriente, Envinate Albahra, Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhônes, or other elegant, un-oaked Mediterranean Garnacha/Grenache expressions.