Clos Figueras

Although this small but imposing property is barely 16 years old, Clos Figueras has already taken its place as one of the leaders in this exciting and constantly evolving appellation. The talented owner, entrepreneur, and wine distributor Christopher Cannan is one of many individuals who have transformed this formerly unremarkable D.O. from a rustic backwater into an important wine region. His energy, commitment, and drive are remarkable, as he constantly strives to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in this once forgotten corner of Catalonia. Even though vineyards have been planted in this province of the Tarragona region since Roman times, it was only since a group of enthusiasts ‘discovered’ the area’s virtues in the 1980s that the Priorat region rose to the forefront of Spain’s best wine regions.

Clos Figueras was founded in 1997, although the current owner Christopher Cannan had, in fact, been exporting top Priorat wines through his company Europvin since the 1980s. After years of extolling the virtues of this great region to wine lovers across the world, he decided to invest in an abandoned vineyard just north of the town of Gratallops. With the help of dynamic estate owner and winemaker Rene Barbier – who is basically the founding father of modern Priorat – they replanted the 10-hectare estate on the famous Priorat slate/schist soils known as “llicorella,” which yield the powerful, minerally wines for which the region is renowned. In 2000, Clos Figueras acquired another 8 hectares of land, giving them a superb collection of Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, and Syrah vineyards. After initially releasing one wine in 1999, their 2001 Clos Figueras vintage met with universal consumer and critical acclaim and was awarded 96 points by the illustrious wine critic Robert Parker.

Today, Christopher and his wife Charlotte are continuing their hard work in crafting world-class wines that are enjoyed worldwide. Clos Figueras’ first wine is a superb example of old-vine Grenache and Carignan producing wines of depth, weight, and every other dimension! Their second and third labels complement their star wine by being excellent value and softer, rounder, and more approachable. Then, there is the stunning white – Font de la Figuera – a rare find in this red-dominated part of Spain. A fascinating blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and Chenin Blanc, the wine has become a benchmark for white Priorat and has great style and intensity. And if this wasn’t enough, Clos Figueras has a superb restaurant, makes sublime olive oil on their estate, and welcomes visitors at any time of the year.