Spain · Priorat

Altavins Viticultors

Altavins Viticultors makes red Terra Alta wines, including Almodí Negre, with manual harvest in boxes.

The producer

Altavins Viticultors is based in Batea in Terra Alta, southwestern Catalonia, with 14 hectares of vineyards between 350 and 550 metres. Its philosophy combines honesty with a Mediterranean approach. Manual harvesting with boxes is used alongside careful vineyard control. Named red wines include Almodí Especial Garnatxa Peluda, Tempus Altavins Viticultors and Almodi Altavins Viticultors. The first wines were produced in 2000, and the winery was inaugurated in 2003.

Known for

Manual harvest in Terra Alta

Notable facts

The story

Domus Pensi Wins Recognition

The 2008 Domus Pensi Altavins vintage received a 90 point Parker score, won a Gold Medal at the Berliner Wine Trophy and was chosen as Gran Vi de Guarda de la Terra Alta. The recognitions belonged to one vintage. A score gives a number, a medal records a competition result and a Terra Alta title names the local distinction. The bottle was Domus Pensi Altavins, with 2008 attached to the name. All three forms of recognition named the same wine.

From the atlas

Altavins Viticultors

Altavins Viticultors is based in Batea in Terra Alta, with a Mediterranean philosophy and careful vineyard control.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
RegionTerra Alta, southwestern Catalonia
VillageBatea
Vineyard area14 hectares
WineAlmodí Negre
Defining practiceManual harvest with boxes
PhilosophyHonesty and a Mediterranean approach

The Producer

Altavins harvests by hand into boxes and carefully controls the vineyard. This handling can limit crushing before fermentation, while vineyard control supports fruit quality. Altavins produced its first wines in 2000 and inaugurated its own winery in 2003. Its philosophy combines honesty with a Mediterranean approach.

Place

Batea is the village where Altavins is based, within Terra Alta in southwestern Catalonia. The vineyards sit between 350 and 550 metres above sea level. La Plana, l'Altiplà and les Valls are notable areas within that range.

The soil has a high mineral content. Considerable changes between night and day during ripening maximise the aromas and flavours of the varieties.

Wines

The red Terra Alta wines include Almodí Especial Garnatxa Peluda, Tempus Altavins Viticultors and Almodi Altavins Viticultors. Almodí Especial Garnatxa Peluda is the 2024 wine. Tempus Altavins Viticultors is the 2020 wine. Almodi Altavins Viticultors is the 2022 wine.

Oak aging gives wine gradual contact with wood and oxygen and can soften texture. Almodí Negre undergoes oak aging. Its palate is powerful, with red fruit and licorice, a smooth texture, strong tannins, good balance, good persistence and a long finish.

Final Word

Sources

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