![Joan Escoda]( "joan escoda 1")
- Joan brings out a sample of the 2012 Chenin Blanc
After spending a few days along the Mediterranean coast we drove about thirty mile inland and headed to Conca de Barbera to see our fiend Joan Escoda. Joan is making some powerful and statement building wines which are all biodynamic and exsquite. Joan took us on a tour of his vineyards, and he is where no one else wants to be. He is growing Pinot Noir on a ridge top above everyone else which is why his Pinot Noir is so unique and powerful. As we tour the vineyards it is amazing to see all of the vegetation which is grown along with the vines which he says give the soil more nutrients and protects the vines from a lot of pests. Unfortunately not against Boars which love to eat the best fruit in the vineyards, this year they ate most of the Cabernet Franc and Merlot so there will not be any 2012 Coll de Sabetor.
Like most of the vineyards we have visited the production levels were very low for 2012 but the quality was intense. In addition to tasting the 2012 we went back as far as the 2005 vintages on most of his wines and the older wines were showing in some cases better than the current releases. I mentioned to him I was impressed with the 2005 Coll de Sabetor and he gracious enough to release some more and it will be arriving in the spring.
He took us to lunch where we enjoyed the local cuisine along with a few bottles of his favorite wines he has made, including a collaboration he made with his best friend called Vamos! Vamos! a blend of Chenin Blanc and Garnataxa Blanc. It was delious and paired very well with the cod carparccio salad.
I kept prodding all day for Joan to come and visit the US and he says he wants to and possibly this spring, stay tuned. Tomorrow we are off to Priorat….
