Clos Mogador Priorat 2019
Clos Mogador (Barbier Family) · Clos Mogador, Gratallops, Catalonia
Clos Mogador 2019 is the proving ground for an entire wine region. When René Barbier III planted vines on these abandoned Catalan terraces in 1979, Priorat was a ghost — its ancient vineyards reclaimed by scrub and silence. Barbier proved that the llicorella slate, the punishing altitude, and the Mediterranean heat were not obstacles but ingredients, and Clos Mogador became one of the five founding wines that transformed Priorat from obscurity into one of Spain's two DOQ-classified regions. The 2019 vintage is everything Priorat promises: power tempered by minerality, concentration balanced by freshness, and a finish that won't let you forget where it came from. Cocktail — The Priorat Sangria (serves 4): 1 bottle Clos Mogador 2019, 2 oz brandy, 1 oz orange liqueur, 2 oz fresh orange juice, sliced stone fruits and citrus. Combine in a pitcher and refrigerate for 4 hours. Serve over ice. A luxurious take on sangria that honors the wine's dark fruit and spice.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Intense and complex — ripe dark cherry, crushed blackcurrant, wild thyme, and violet open into layers of toasted spice, dark chocolate, and a distinctive mineral smokiness that rises from the llicorella slate. There is a Mediterranean warmth — dried herbs, sun-baked earth — that grounds the fruit.
Palate
Massive yet disciplined, with concentrated red and black fruit wrapped in velvety tannins. Crystallized cherry, black pepper, coffee, and fennel weave through a full body that remains remarkably fresh, lifted by a powerful acidity that gives the wine its famous precision. The slate minerality is persistent, running beneath every layer.
Finish
Extraordinarily long, with mineral tones, dark fruit, cedar, and a lingering spice that builds rather than fades. The finish alone could justify the price. Wine
- Varietal
- Grenache (Garnacha)
- Blend
- 49% Grenache, 29% Carignan, 12% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vineyards
- Estate vineyards in Gratallops, DOQ Priorat; llicorella (slate and quartz) soils at elevation; biodynamic farming
Food Pairing
Slow-braised lamb shoulder with rosemary, roasted garlic, and a red wine reduction, where the wine's concentration and herbal complexity meet their perfect counterpart.
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