Who makes it
Michel Grupper began the Clos Pachem project in Priorat in 2015. He trained as a surgeon, leads a medical foundation helping children in developing countries, participated in wine associations for more than 20 years, and helped found the urban cellar Les Vignerons Parisiens. Clos Pachem takes its name from his children, Paul, Charles and Emma.
Josep Riba Comaposada is head of enology and viticulture. Sustainable farming formed part of the project's philosophy from the outset. Its reds are Priorat DOQ wines, while its white is a Terra Alta DO wine.
Where it grows
Gratallops holds the winery in its historic centre, where the building uses natural, simple and durable materials. The red and white wines carry different appellation names, with Priorat DOQ for the reds and Terra Alta DO for the white.
The Planassos plot lies within the municipality of Gratallops. Different orientations, altitudes and soil depths create microclimate variation, and those changes affect how Grenache and Carignan develop across the plot.
What they make
The range includes Priorat reds and a Terra Alta white. Camí de la Mina 2019 is an equal blend of red Grenache and Carignan from 40 year old vines in Gratallops llicorella and Torroja sandstone. Pachem Carinyena 2021 is a varietal Carignan from selected Priorat plots. Pachem 2020 is a Priorat red, while Licos 2021 is a Terra Alta white.
Clos Pachem uses low extraction vinification and different vessel materials. Camí de la Mina ferments by variety and plot in individual 1000 litre tanks, with spontaneous fermentation from indigenous grape yeasts and a short, gently stirred maceration. It matures for 12 months, half in French oak barrels and half in 1000 litre ceramic stoneware vats. Pachem Carinyena follows malolactic fermentation and matures for 12 months in concrete tanks.