TANCA ELS ULLS
Nulles
Catalunya
Tanca els Ulls, situated in a small village southwest of Barcelona, is the project of winemaker Francesc Boronat who in 2014 took over the family's estate with the aim to recuperate the old vineyards formerly farmed by his grandfather. His mission is to valorise indigenous varieties, such as Cartoixa and Macabeu, to produce saline, pithy wines with a sense of place and personality.
Tanca els Ulls translates as 'close the eyes' in the local dialect and it is a reference to the grower's audacity to take a leap into the unknown and embark on the challenging project if resuscitating a tiny family operation - especially in an area where there are no other active wineries left and grapes have historically been sold to large cooperatives.
Malvasia
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Tarragona, Catalunya
Varieties Malvasia
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking This wine is made from the "Camí de Puigpelat" vineyard, a small
plot located on the northeast slope very close to Nulles village. This is a very special vineyard rich in calcareous soils, surrounded by small forest and different crops such as hazelnut, carob and almond trees. A constant sea breeze can be felt in this location, cooling temperatures in this vineyard throughout the warm summers. Grapes are hand harvested and see a short maceration of 2 days on the skins. The wine is rested for 3 months before bottling.
Tasting Note Elegant, crisp and zippy notes of green pear, lime and acacia undertones come through on the nose. The palate is vibrant and zesty with a lovely saline edge.
Macabeu
Vintage 2018
Style Orange
Region Tarragona, Catalunya
Varieties Macabeu
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Entirely from the ‘L'Alzina’ vineyard, where vines are more than 60 years old and planted on clay-calcareous soils at a short distance from the sea and south exposure. As a result, the
terroir provides grapes with a good acidity, freshness, and salinity. Made in classic brisat style (skin-contact in Catalan), the grapes are gently macerated on the skins for 7 days before pressing. Fermented and aged on fine lees for 7 months.
Tasting Note Salty citrus, beeswax, green apple skin and dried herbs. Great bite and precision.
La Lleona
Vintage 2022
Style Orange
Region Tarragona, Catalunya
Varieties Cartoixà de Marina
ABV 11.5%
Soils Limestone, Alluvial deposits, Pebbles
Farming Organic
Winemaking This wine is made exclusively in ‘Camí del Riu’, an old vineyard
located next to the Gaià river, in Vilabella. It is a very singular
vineyard as the soils are formed by the buildup of fluvial
sediments, resulting in a very fresh soil with plenty of mineral depth. Hand-harvested and skin-fermented in stainless steel for just under a week. The grapes are then drained without pressing (free run juice only) and aged for 4 months after fermentation.
Tasting Note Given the proximity to the sea, the microclimate here is cool and saline and as a result the wine obtain from this vineyard is elegant, fresh, and saline with a Mediterranean feel to it.
Vinyes Velles
Vintage 2020
Style Orange
Region Tarragona, Catalunya
Varieties Cartoixà de Marina
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone, Pebbles
Farming Organic
Winemaking Grapes come exclusively from a vineyard in the north of Nulles called ‘Coster de Bellavista’. It is a costal vineyard also located next to a stream, with vines planted on primary clay and river Galets (white pebbles). The grapes are macerated on the skins for 20 days with approximately 20% of stems. After pressing the wine feeds into stainless steel tanks to finish fermentation and continue ageing for 6 months on fine lees.
Tasting Note Vinyes Velles (literally ‘old vines’) is the
pure reflection of this Cartoixà vineyard, offering a broader, more muscular expression of the variety yet maintaining balance and freshness. Long and mineral on the finish, with spices and an attractive herbal quality.
Garnatxa
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region Tarragona, Catalunya
Varieties Garnatxa
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking A recent addition to Francesc range and the first of his reds. The fruit comes from young Garnatxa vines, hand-harvested and vinified using whole clusters in stainless steel. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note This is vintage is made in a more elegant style, think red cherry, fresh raspberry fruit with hints of peppery spice on the finish.