Clos Pons makes organic Costers del Segre wine in southern Lleida, with Algés showing fruit, acidity, minerals and a little wood.
The producer
Clos Pons is a Costers del Segre estate in southern Lleida, with organic vineyards at 500 to 700 metres above sea level. The Pons family established its reputation through olive oil before moving into grape growing and winemaking. A hilltop winery overlooks the vineyards, combining a stone and wood building with technology and traditional methods. Clos Pons Algés is a red with Grenache and Syrah as named components, medium body, fruit, notable acidity and a light touch of wood.
Known for
Organic Costers del Segre wine
Notable facts
The estate cultivates 48 hectares of organic vineyards.
The vineyards stand between 500 and 700 metres above sea level within DO Costers del Segre.
The wine project began after frost destroyed much of the family's olive grove in 2001.
Grapes are converted into wine on the same property where they are grown.
The story
The Frost That Began Wine
In 2001, frost destroyed much of the Pons family's olive grove. Olive oil was the origin of the family business, and the loss opened the path to a new winemaking project in Les Garrigues Altes. The family moved into grape growing and winemaking after establishing its reputation through olive oil. Clos Pons was born from that frost. The winery now stands on a hill overlooking the vineyards, but the episode began with lost olive trees and a new project in wine.
From the atlas
Clos Pons
Clos Pons is a Costers del Segre estate with organic vineyards, a hilltop winery and a family move from olive oil into wine.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Catalonia
Appellation
DO Costers del Segre
Vineyard area
48 hectares of organic vineyards
Elevation
500 to 700 metres
Signature wine
Clos Pons Algés
Defining feature
Grapes become wine where they are grown
The Producer
Olive oil is the origin of the Pons family business. The family established its reputation through olive oil before moving into grape growing and winemaking. Clos Pons has a winery on a hill overlooking the vineyards. Its design follows the French château or American estate model, with a stone and wood building inspired by wineries in California, Australia and New Zealand.
Place
Cool nights, dry summers and strong temperature contrasts slow ripening and preserve natural acidity in Les Garrigues. Clos Pons lies in southern Lleida, in the municipalities of Albagés and La Pobla de Cérvoles. Scarce rainfall, cold winters and very warm summers mark the continental climate. Calcareous, stony soils add minerality.
Wines
Clos Pons Algés is the named red in the range. It is a medium bodied, fruity wine with a little wood and a style suited to food. The bottle comes from Costers del Segre.
In The Glass
The 2019 Algés shows berries with a touch of jam, liquorice and cherries over mineral notes. Its notable acidity carries the fruit into a fresh finish. The 2013 Algés shows black cherry, restrained oak and graphite, with an unusual watermelon note on the finish.
A Bottle To Understand It
Clos Pons Algés is the bottle to open first. It is the named red from Costers del Segre, with Grenache and Syrah in its grape composition. Its label combines the estate name, the appellation and the grape varieties in one bottle.
Final Word
Clos Pons makes wine on the same property where its grapes are grown, in a facility where technology meets traditional methods.