Sara I Rene Partida Bellvisos Blanc 2019

Sara i Rene Partida Bellvisos Blanc 2019 is a skin-contact white from Priorat made entirely from estate-grown Garnacha Blanca, Trepat Blanco, and Macabeo harvested from 65-year-old certified-organic vines rooted in the appellation's characteristic llicorella slate. The 2019 vintage was whole-cluster fermented with native yeasts in 380-liter amphorae with extended skin maceration for a month, then aged nine months in a 600-liter Austrian oak demi-muid. Only 800 bottles were produced, making this one of the most limited-production natural whites from Priorat available in the United States. Sara Pérez of Mas Martinet and René Barbier, founder of Clos Mogador, launched Partida Bellvisos in 2001 after acquiring Els Bellvisos, a steeply terraced, abandoned vineyard surrounded by holm oak forest on a dramatic coster slope in Gratallops. The project was conceived to make wines "at one with nature" in an uncompromising, sustainable framework that closed the circle between vineyard and cellar. Winemaking follows biodynamic principles: whole-cluster fermentation, extended maceration, and minimal intervention throughout the élevage in thick-staved Austrian oak. The Bellvisos vineyard sits at high altitude where llicorella slate and Mediterranean scrubland define the terroir, imparting a mineral backbone and tension that runs through every vintage. The palate shows layers of stone fruit—white peach, nectarine—alongside floral notes and a saline finish that reflects the slate soils. Bright acidity provides structure, while subtle tannins from the extended skin contact lend grip and a textural roundness without heaviness. The wine is full-bodied but remarkably fresh, with less pronounced tannin than earlier vintages, making it more immediately approachable while retaining the complexity and depth Priorat is known for. The 2019 captures the tension between high-altitude slate minerality and the waxy, pollen-laden character of old-vine Garnacha Blanca. Pair it with Mediterranean cuisine—grilled octopus, roasted chicken with herbs, aged Manchego—or drink it on its own as a study in tension and balance. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.