Aixala i Alcait

Priorat

Location Torroja
Grapes Carignan, Garnacha, Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca
Viticulture Certified Organic
Producer Jordi and Sussi Aixala i Jansana
Website http://pardelasses.blogspot.com
Location Torroja
Grapes Carignan, Garnacha, Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca
Viticulture Certified Organic
Producer Jordi and Sussi Aixala i Jansana
Website http://pardelasses.blogspot.com

We discovered this gem of an estate in 2022 on a trip to Montsant. A tip off from a close friend was enough to make us abandon our Montsant quest and seek out this very highly thought of cellar we had never heard of in a village we know well.

Jordi and Sussi live in a quiet back street of Torroja (although all the streets here are quiet!), a pretty, tightly wound hilltop village in the northern quarter of Priorat. Jordi bought his vineyards in Pardelasses and Clivelles, two cru of the village, after his father died, and produced his first wine in 2005, with just 300 bottles. It took until 2009 and a rough ride through the global economic crash to start producing single terroir wines, starting with Pardelasses in 2009.

The cellar is located in Sussi’s Mother’s house, and they live next door. The acacia, oak and chestnut demi muid are spaced out on one level, and the winery and pressing on another. Space is tight but just about fits the production of the handful of hectares they work by hand, tractor and donkey. Pardelasses is planted to

Carinena, Garnacha, Sumol and Garnacha Blanca planted on licorella soil with narrow plantings on a steep ‘coster’. Clivelles has Macabeu, Garnacha, and Carinena. It has more Saulo soil, sandy mica rich soil over lay with carboniferous slate below. Each parcel produces a wine of distinct character, with Pardelasses being more woven, herbal and generous, whilst Clivelles being more restrained, elegant and refined. Be under no illusion though, these are not wines with heavy oak and aspiration, they are refined, light-footed and driven by acidity. They caught our hearts on first tasting and it is a joy to be able to introduce them to the UK.

Aixala i Alcait Wines

Clivelles Blanco 50% white grenache and 50% macabeu. Ageing 3 months in acacia barrel. The grapes come from the vineyard with the same name
Clivelles Tinto 100% Carignan. French and chestnut barrel. The grapes come from Les Clivelles, among 300m and 400m over the sea. This is the nearest vineyard to Torroja del Priorat, belongs to the family since 1980, Pallej Guillamat Family was the previous owner. The soil is formed by 4 substrats: saulo, llicorella, ferral and blue stone.
Pardelassses Tinto 50% Grenache 50% Carignan from terraced vineyards. American and French oak barrels of 2nd years and two sizes 500l and 300l. This wine tries to keep the Priorat essence without strong wood flavours. The grapes come from 5 vineyards among the areas Amitxers and Pardelasses. From 285m to 500m over the sea.
Clivelles Blanco 50% white grenache and 50% macabeu. Ageing 3 months in acacia barrel. The grapes come from the vineyard with the same name
Clivelles Tinto 100% Carignan. French and chestnut barrel. The grapes come from Les Clivelles, among 300m and 400m over the sea. This is the nearest vineyard to Torroja del Priorat, belongs to the family since 1980, Pallej Guillamat Family was the previous owner. The soil is formed by 4 substrats: saulo, llicorella, ferral and blue stone.
Pardelassses Tinto 50% Grenache 50% Carignan from terraced vineyards. American and French oak barrels of 2nd years and two sizes 500l and 300l. This wine tries to keep the Priorat essence without strong wood flavours. The grapes come from 5 vineyards among the areas Amitxers and Pardelasses. From 285m to 500m over the sea.