Years ago, the Catalonian government initiated a pull-out program endorsing farmers to rip out their Cariñena and plant Garnacha and other preferred varieties. A vigorous grape, Cariñena can produce a large quantity of fruit at low quality with poor vineyard management. As a result, much Cariñena was made into “jug wine”, and gave the grape a poor reputation.

However, when crop load is controlled or when vines are very old, Cariñena produces a rich, round, full-bodied, vibrant wine with soft tannins and bright acidity. The best can age gracefully, and these are special wines worth pursuing.

The flagship wine of the property, “Doix”, is 55% Cariñena and 45% Garnacha. The grapes come from vines between 80 and 115 years old, with small, exceptional average production of around 400 grams per vine. Harvested by hand and transported to the winery in small crates, the fruit ferments in small lots. It matures around 16 months in new French oak barrels before it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The extraordinarily tiny yields means that each vine produces enough juice to fill one-quarter of a bottle. The Cariñena brings herbs, flowers and spices to the palate, together with mineral freshness while the Garnacha provides perfume and plush red fruit flavours.

“The 2022 Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles was produced with 55% Cariñena and 45% Garnacha from old vines. It fermented with neutral yeasts in stainless steel and matured for 14 months in barrels, 50% of them new. Despite the new oak, it’s not overpowering, and even though it’s a little too young, it comes through as elegant and balanced within the powerful and ripe style of the vintage. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.38 and six grams of acidity. The tannins are abundant but fine and elegant. It should age nicely in bottle. I was bottled in February 2024.’
95 points, Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, May 2025