Iglesia Vella
At a Glance
- Name: Iglesia Vella means 'old church' in Catalan, in reference to the vineyard's location
- Variety: Grenache Gris
- Vine Age: Planted in 1954
- Terroir: Schist
- Viticulture: Organic (certified, practicing since 2008) and biodynamic (certified, practicing since 2011)
- Winemaking: Whole-cluster pressing. Settling without cooling. Ambient yeast fermentation with no sulfur additions in barrels and foudres (228, 500, and 1500L) that are mostly used. Despite very low pH’s, Malos tend to happen except on L’Oca. No fining. Light filtration. Total sulfur at bottling 40 to 60 ppm, though it is not all added because the yeasts in the terroir produce a substantial amount on their own during fermentation.
Additional Info
Iglessia Vella is one of the domaine's most mineral whites, often reminiscent of German dry Riesling or Loire Valley Chenin Blanc, which can prompt some amusing analogies.
Marjorie: Sometimes when it is young it doesn't want to talk. Or rather, it doesn't want to talk to you now. It wants to know who you are first. It’s like an oyster.
Stéphane: It's a wine for people who have time.
M: It’s like a monk meditating.
Paul: It has the silence of the monastery. And it is very vertical.
S:It's like being in an elevator in a mine and are you are going down very fast.