Hodgkinson Mas Del Habanero Priorat

Hodgkinson-Mas del Habanero 2015 is the first family wine produced in the Priorat, Catalonia, Spain by the 3 Hodgkinson brothers. The brothers produce their wines naturally using their own grapes, grown exclusively on their property. They have been in production in Priorat since 1972.

Garnacha, Carinena

The Hodgkinson Mas del Habanero is a composite of the different terraces, soils and orientations of the estates vineyards.

85% Garnacha Negra, 15% Carinena

A Garnacha Negra dominant blend that preserves a natural sharpness aging beautifully. Matured for 24 months in 500 Litre French oak barrels (75% old oak & 25% new oak) and 500 Litre amphorae, it truly reflects the complexities of our Terroir. The eastern orientation and the influence of the Mediterranean breeze combined with our Hornfel slates makes for this unique wine.

Intense, fresh and complex aromas showing hints of tobacco leaves, plums and pepper; once decanted it evolves towards a clean bright palate, vivid and long, making it highly gastronomic and can be paired with a wide variety of dishes.

Nolan - Text from the Spotlight on Spanish Garnacha

The region of Priorat in Catalunya produces some of the finest wines in the whole of Spain. This is not simply my opinion, it is codified in the laws of Spain’s wine designation, as one of two DOCa’s, at the top of the wine hierarchy pyramid, the other being Rioja.

Priorat is often compared to Chateauneuf du Pape, as they are both famous for quality and Garnacha. Here in Priorat, Garnacha is most commonly blended with another Spanish grape, Carignena, or just Carginan in France. Priorat’s vineyards are planted at high altitude in "llicorella" - a free-draining, nutrient-poor soil made up of partially decomposed slate and quartz. Spain's hot, dry vineyards are known for their low yields, but Priorat's vines are low yielding even by Spanish standards, and as we have learned, lower yields produce more flavourful berries! The dryness here is no joke, the rainfall here is tiny, an average of a mere 500mm annually, this is comparable to Jerez in the far South of Spain!

Hodgkinson is arguably our favourite Priorat with a high proportion of 85% Garnacha Negra with 15% Carinena blended in to increase colour, tannin and acidity. The wine is matured for 24 months in a combination of 500 litre French oak barrels with only 25% of them being new oak, (older oak being the majority means the wine is still elegant and not swamped with oak), the rest of the wine is aged in 500 litre clay amphorae which provides an amazing texture. Fresher on the palate than many Priorat’s I have come across, this is still rich and full, with flavours of tobacco, plums and pepper, it is a gastronomic beast!