Why it matters
The producer
Josep Lluís Pérez arrived in Priorat with his family to explore the potential of the land. Together with his wife, Montse Ovejero, he studied its slate soils, dry Mediterranean climate and native grape varieties. Mas Martinet began as a family life project with the whole family involved.
His daughter Sara Pérez later took control and brought an agroecological approach that treats the vineyard as a whole ecosystem. The estate manages vineyards, olive trees and woods as one agrosystem under organic farming principles. The wines use minimal intervention and techniques that respect terroir.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The winery is administratively in Falset and belongs to the Gratallops wine growing area within DOQ Priorat. Menut 2022 is labelled as a Priorat red.
Priorat combines dry Mediterranean conditions with slate soils, alongside the native Garnatxa and Carinyena varieties. Slate is fractured and free draining, while a dry climate limits rainfall during ripening, helping red grapes reach full flavour without dilution.
Wines to know
The range in view
Mas Martinet makes one wine from each vineyard and has revived traditional varieties that were close to disappearing. Menut is the base cuvée. Menut 2022 is a red wine from Priorat at 14% alcohol, blended from 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Carignan and 10% Merlot. The fruit comes from young vines not selected for Martinet Bru or any of the producer's three prestige wines.
Menut's grapes ferment in tank and are pressed after three to four weeks, depending on variety. After blending, the cuvée ages 14 months in 300 litre French oak barrels, 30% new, and is bottled unfiltered. It is full bodied, with juicy blackberry and raspberry fruit, liquorice and vanilla. Velvety tannins and integrated acidity give it energy and drinkability.