Back to the Foreign Vineyard List
Back to the Rotllan Torra Vineyard List

Amadis 2003
Rotllan Torra
D.O. Priorat

Rotllan Torra is a winery based in Torroja del Priorat, Spain. Jordi Rotllan Torra founded his winery with his family in 1984. One of the pioneers of the new wave of winemakers who entered this region, he had the vision to see the possibilities that existed.  In 1997 Rotllan Torra exploded on the Spanish wine making scene with the release of Amadis 1995, a wine from hundred-year-old vines. It was named by the two top publications in the Spanish wine industry as one of the top wines of the year.
The winery is located in a former monastery of the small village of Torroja del Priorat (2 hours southwest of Barcelona.) This ancient area boasts steep hillside vineyards of Grenache, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon at 2000 feet elevation. Many of the vineyards are a hundred years old. The soil is composed primarily of slate. The dry, hot climate forces the vines to extend down many meters for water. Because of these factors, yields tend to be very low. All harvesting is done by hand due to the steep inclines of the vineyards.

 Amadis is from 100-year-old vines whose yields are around 10 hectoliters per hectare. It is named after a medieval knight. Tirant comes from a unique microclimate near the village of Torroja del Priorat.

Amadis 2003

Tasting Notes - Blackberry, licorice and coffee flavors mingle in this inky red. The muscular tannins are well integrated and lavish oak complements the ripe fruit. Heady, but stays clean. Drink now through 2015. 2,000 cases made. –T.M. (Wine Spectator, Nov 30, 2006)

Wine Maker Notes - 2003 was a very good year for Rotllan Torra.  Although the heat wave of 2003 did reach Spain, Rotllan Torra's high altitude, old vines vineyards where well suited to deal with this issue.

D.O. Priorat

The Priorat is the darling Denominacion of Origin of Spain. This old region lost in the mountains of Tarragona contains one of the most unique vineyard sites. The name Priorat comes from the “priory” or monasteries that were common to this region. The Carthusian Monks who lived in this region made wine for centuries for sacramental purposes. The monks today are no longer around but the tradition of wine making survived. Because of this history many of the vineyards in Priorat are ancient and often date back to the turn of the century.