2022 Escoda Sanahuja, Conca de Barbera, Coll de Sabater

Joan Ramón Escoda is an uncompromising figure whose commitment to biodynamic farming and zero-sulfite winemaking in Conca de Barberà is driven by a singular, defiant conviction that wine should be a raw, unfiltered reflection of its origins. Set amidst the mountain-rimmed basins of Catalonia, the Coll de Sabater benefits from limestone-rich soils and high altitudes that lend this Cabernet Franc a distinct, structural tension. The 2022 vintage, characterized by its resilient balance despite the region's warm, dry summer, gives the wine a vibrant energy that cuts through its inherent earthiness. On the palate, it feels like polished river stone, delivering a clarity and mineral-driven focus that persists long after the first sip. It is an honest, compelling study of a place, unburdened by anything other than the intent of the producer.