Glòria Garriga & Oriol Illa decided they wanted to live with their daughter in nature & make real wine, after becoming convinced that they did not believe in extreme viticultural techniques. They use different selected hillside vineyards, & work closely with a few growers, carrying out delicate duties such as the pruning themselves. Each vineyard is chosen for its particular location, climate, grape variety, age of vines, soil type. Their search for the right vineyards began in ’01 & led them to the best plots in the Penedès Superior. They will soon be planting a number of micro- vineyards across the Font-Rubí hills in order to observe their particular characteristics. As the fruit matures, they select only part of the crop that is the best for their wine. They hand-pick the grapes over a number of sessions: early in the morning & in small cases Their aim is to produce a Classic, Ancestral, & Crystalline wine.
Els Jelipins 2004 : Their second vintage. Great aging potential.
Press :
http://saignee.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/day-17-els-jelipins-the-future-of-spanish-wine/
http://www.alicefeiring.com/blog/2010/07/gloria-oriol-berta-aka-els-jelipins-part-1.html
http://www.alicefeiring.com/blog/2010/07/els-jelipins-part-2.html
Els Jelipins:
Age of Vines: Sumoll 80 (Sumoll), 35 (Garnatxa).
Yields:
Pruning Method:
Soil: Sumoll alluvial w/ slate & granite traces (rich in minerals, also has quartz). Garnatxa clay/calcare. .
Varietals: Sumoll (60%) and Garnacha (40%).
Vinification Method: As little intervention as possible (wild yeast, SO2 at bottling only). The fermentation temperature is established naturally & is normally low. The extraction process is slow & careful, & they drain by tasting, respecting vital cycles. Aged more than 30 months in used oak vats (10hl foudre) from France & Garbelloto (Eslavonian oak) for the Sumoll; in demi muid from Seguin Moreau & Dominique Laurent for Garnatxa; at the moment in trial stage for use of amphora 3hl vats (10% total production).
Tasting Note: Notable for its balance. The nose is intense: kirsch aromas, clean, well-defined red fruit, accompanied by a subtle hint of balsam & flowers & a suggestion of cacao & minerals. The taste starts straight, vertical & very crystalline: medium weight, warm & juicy & clean, with a firm but silky tannic structure. A long, voluptuous & fresh finish.
Pairing: Stews, chicken and pork dishes.
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