Mas Martinet | Priorat

The palm tree presiding over the estate, located on the road between Falset and Gratallops, is the most representative icon at Mas Martinet, one of the first projects (alongside Clos Dofi, Clos Mogador, Clos Erasmus and Clos de l'Obacone) of the so called Priorat Renaissance. The Pérez Ovejero family began it in 1981, placing extraordinary focus on the vineyards through the study of strategic placements, root stocks, grape varieties (Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah), climate and soil.

Twenty years later, at the beginning of the 21st century, Sara Pérez took the helm at Mas Martinet, managing the vineyards, olive trees and woods on the estate as a single agro-system in accordance with the guidelines of agro-ecology. The emphasis here is on Garnacha and Carinena, with diminishing proportions of Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot making up the numbers. Between Menut and Martinet Bru, the entry level wines offer stunning silky fruit and slate-spiced wines representative of the region. Each of the single crus, meanwhile, is designed to represent a different era in the history of Priorato; Els Escurcons the pre-phylloxera era when locals would plant Garnacha at altitude to benefit from cooling breezes, Cami Pesseroles the era immediately after phylloxera when poor vignerons set about re-planting with the high yielding Carinena grape, and Clos Martinet representing the modern era, when international varieties arrived in Priorat and investment returned to the area.

The Mas Martinet wines are strikingly beautiful examples of what Priorato can achieve and demonstrate exactly why the wine-loving world should sit up and take note of this unique slate-rich region.

MAS MARTINET