Tasting note
Colour - Mid-red with tawny hues.

Aroma - Bramble and redcurrant fruit with a hint of leather, polish and oak.

Taste - Silky with lots of complex berry fruits, now mellow and mature, with spicy oak and some grippy tannins on the finish.

	Type:Still Red Wine		Country:Spain		Appellation:Catalunya DO
	Grape Type:Red blend		Drink Before:End of 2012		Body:Medium Bodied
	Alcohol:14.5%		Bottle Size:75cl		Bottle Code:60638

Description
This fabulous Gran Reserva is from a family estate in the high hills of the Terra Alta in northeast Spain, four hours' drive west of Barcelona. It makes up the southwesterly point of Catalunya. As its name implies, it lies at a high altitude and, like Priorato next door, has poor, arid soils which produce excellent concentration in the wines.

The Gil family's viticultural heritage in the area dates back to the 19th century when, in 1842, Ramón Gil Roijals purchased some land in the 'highlands' of Catalonia and planted his first vineyard. Now, five generations later, Don Elias Gil is in charge.

Winemaker for the family is the award-winning Josep Gurrera Descarrega, who has over 20 years of experience winemaking in the top estates of Tarragona and Terra Alta. He only makes this wine when the fruit is really top-notch and uses the very best parcels of low-yielding, old bush-vine grapes from the estate.

Over one third Cabernet Sauvignon, unusual for this area, gives the wine deep colour, powerful cassis and good structure, while the silky Tempranillo fills out the wine with soft Summer berry flavour and the Garnacha with fuller, bramble character. Three years in American oak has lent a rich layer of toasty spice and scented vanilla to this mature red.

Session 1 at the Vintage Festival April 2008 2008, United Kingdom