Grape Variety: Lledoner Pelut

Colour: Red

Lledoner Pelut sounds like a Welsh peninsula.

There are two important clones of the red Grenache vine. The standard Grenache is usually referred to as “Garnatxa Fina” in Catalan. There is however the much more peculiar clone known as “Hairy Grenache”. In Catalonia it is often called “Garnatxa Peluda” or “Lledoner Pelut”. The leaves look similar to Macabeo, but with fine little hairs. Recent investigation in Spain into this bizarre clone indicates that it produces smaller berries with a thicker skin. This makes it arguably the superior clone.

The Artesano Tinto from the highlands on the Spanish side of the Catalan features the hairy Grenache as a minor component in a five way blend, but Edouard Laffitte’s L’Echappee Belle (narrow escape) contains 55% of this grape. Made naturally and by carbonic maceration this is vibrant and invigorating with oodles of juicy black fruit.