Cara Nord Negre 2015
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Parker
Robert
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Sierra de Prades from 350 to 800 meters above sea level and surrounded by a national preserve. Here vines are challenged by continuous temperature changes, intense UV exposure and poor stony soils. The region has a complex geology where rocky slate gives way to limestone and gravelly clay and where the climate is influenced by the warm interior of Spain and the moderating influence of the Mediterranean. Combined with the diurnal shifts in temperature, CARA NORD can produce wines from grapes that are fully mature, but re-tain a high level of natural acidity and completely ripe tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This 2015 Cara Nord is a red blend of Garnacha, Syrah and the local Garrut, a grape believed to have originated in the Conca de Barberà. The grapes come from a mixture of old and younger vines on complex limestone, lime and slate soils and underwent a cold soak before fermenting at low temperature. The wine matured in French oak barrels of different sizes for five months. It's balsamic with a core of wild red fruit, a hint of incense and smoke, quite spicy and something Rhône-ish through the small percentage of Syrah. This is juicy, medium-bodied with fine tannins combining minerality from different soils, slate, granite and limestone. Easy to drink, accessible and very pleasant. 50,000 bottles produced.
Other Vintages
2012-
Parker
Robert
In 2012 they felt the call of “Mountain Viticulture” and threw themselves wholeheartedly into the CARA NORD project, aiming to: Starting with the vineyard and with their small winery located within the historic Monastery of Poblet, in March 2012 they embarked on this great wine-making adventure. Viticulture up to 800m above sea level, as is the case at CARA NORD, takes place in a very particular and demanding geographical environment that poses constant challenges. But Tomas, Xavier and Eric are convinced that vineyards grown on rocky land, in unpolluted air, and surrounded by untouched biodiversity, will result in the creation of original wines with unique organolèptic qualities.
The wines of the North Face CARA NORD, give hints of the Prades Mountains: their altitude, steep inclines, deep vallies, poor and hostile soil, and dramatic scenery. In facing north, CARA NORD is exposed to extreme contrasts in temperature; the air is healthy, energising and positive. Adventure, difficulty and the concept of finding one’s limitations can all be found in the CARA NORD vines. You have to slow down to really see the land, it makes you want to be close, to get closer still.
CARA NORD wines remind us of the beauty, the magnetic attraction and the challenges of mountain viticulture.
It is an environment that demands technique and precision; only those with ability and experience know how to make the altitude shine through. Few will be able to enjoy the pleasure given by the CARA NORD wine as production is limited. CARA NORD creates sincere and bold wines, with transparency, where everything is as it seems and is inspired by respect for the mountains that surround us.
The CARA NORD vines grow at altitude in the Prades Mountains, under difficult conditions, creating unusual wines which truly reflect this clean and unpolluted environment. The vineyards are situated in Spain within the Domination of Origin Conca de Barbera, where there are still new treasures to be discovered.
Spanish red wine is known for being bold, heady, rustic and age-worthy, Spain is truly a one-of-a-kind wine-producing nation. A great majority of the country is hot, arid and drought-ridden, and since irrigation has only been recently introduced and (controversially) accepted, viticulture has sustained—and flourished—only through a great understanding of Spain’s particular conditions. Large spacing between vines allows each enough resources to survive and as a result, the country has the most acreage under vine compared to any other country, but is usually third in production.
Of the Spanish red wines, the most planted and respected grape variety is Tempranillo, the star of Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. Priorat specializes in bold red blends, Jumilla has gained global recognition for its single varietal Monastrell and Utiel-Requena has garnered recent attention for its reds made of Bobal.