Vin de Terra Imports, Inc.

Growers and winemakers in the vineyards of the Ampurdán - called the Empordà in Catalan - have turned their attention to healthier clones of vines and new fermentation technology. As a result this area promises to become a serious producer of high quality wines. Mas Estela is a biodynamic winery situated in the far northeast corner of Spain, within the Cap Creus Nature Park, bordering on the Mediterranean. It is a Mountainous vineyard with slate soil and yields as low as 30 hl/ha. The grapes at this flourishing estate are hand-picked and vinified with great care in order to preserve the typicity and strong personality of the terroir.

Mas Estela is an inspiring place. Visually, it is one of the most beautiful properties in Europe. The family that runs it and the resulting wines are equally wonderful.

Mas Estela is run and operated by Diego and Nuria Soto and two of their boys, Didac and Josep. It is located in the most stunning part of the Costa Brava, two hour’s drive north of Barcelona in the dramatic, extreme north east of Spain, where the Pyrenees Mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea on the Cap de Creus. The property is centered around vestiges of 10th century housing in “cuvettes” deep within the mountain walls only 3 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea and bordering the Cap Creus National Park. Mas Estela, traces its roots back centuries. It has always been a vineyard, which, along with the rest of the National Park was entirely planted with vines. However, the Phylloxera epidemic in the late 19th C and then the civil war all but killed the lifestyle and before long the entire Peninsula was abandoned.

The Sotos first discovered Mas Estela back in 1989 while on a hiking vacation from Barcelona. The Mas was in ruins and the property was abandoned. The Soto’s contacted the owners and quickly settled a deal. Within a year the Soto’s had picked up and moved their family to their new home to revive a vineyard long ago forgotten. They immediately started reviving plants that could be salvaged and re-planted the rest. They managed to salvage some of the old vines including some 45-year Carignan plants. Today, the vineyard boasts 15 hectares of land divided among Carignan, Monastrell, Grenache, Syrah, Chardonnay and Muscat d’Alexandria grape varietals.

The wines of Mas Estela are outstanding. They are a deserving result of people who care a ton about what they do. The grapes are carefully hand selected from organically grown, biodynamic viticulture – the traditional way. The grapes are then vinified and matured with respect, which result in excellent wines, that are fruity and velvety and of course characteristic of the area.

Mas Estela Quindals Emporda 2004
Mas Estella is a certified biodynamic winery located on a 1000-year-old estate. The current ownership purchased the property in 1989. The 2004 Quindals is 90% Garnacha, 5% Syrah, and 5% Carinena aged 12 months in French oak. Dark ruby/purple in color, it offers a fragrant bouquet of raspberry, blueberry, kirsch, and lead pencil. Medium to full-bodied, this superb effort manages to combine elegance with power. The fruit is sweet and layered the finish precise and long. Although it can be drunk now, this wine is certain to evolve beautifully for 3-5 years and should have a 15-20 year lifespan.

Mas Estela Quindals Emporda 2005
The 2005 Quindals is 90% Garnacha, 5% Syrah, and 5% Carinena aged for 12 months in French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it presents an alluring perfume of toasty oak, pencil lead, mineral, violets, black cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with layers of sweet fruit, excellent depth and concentration, spicy flavors, and a pure finish. It will unfold for another 2-3 years and drink well through 2020.

Mas Estela Quindals Emporda 2006
eParker score: 89 points (#169 Feb 2007)
“The 2006 Quindals is 90% Garnacha with the balance Syrah and Carinena that spent 12 months in French oak. It sports a perfume of cedar, mineral, cinnamon, herbs, and cherry. This leads to a supple, ripe, sweetly-fruited wine with a forward personality, good balance, and 2-3 years of aging potential. Drink it over the next eight years.”

Mas Estela Selva del Mar 2004
eParker score: 92 points (#175 Feb 2008)
“The 2004 Selva del Mar is composed of 50% Garnacha, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carinena aged for 18 months in French oak. It is inky purple-colored with a super-expressive nose of cedar, garrigue, pencil lead, mineral, red and black currants, black cherry, and blueberry. Elegantly-styled, it is sweetly-fruited with superb balance, intense flavors, and a long, pure finish. Give it 3-5 years and drink it through 2025.”

Mas Estela Solera Dolc 1991
eParker score: 92 points (#175 Feb 2008)
“The Non-Vintage Vin Dolc is 100% Garnacha drawn from a 60-year-old solera. It exhibits an aged appearance, ruby/brown in color, followed by a sweet, complex, and gripping wine that should marry well with chocolate.”

Mas Estela Moscatell (Moscat d’Alexandria) 2005
eParker score: 89 points (#169 Feb 2007)
“Mas Estella is a certified biodynamic winery located on a 1000-year-old estate. The current ownership purchased the property in 1989. The 2005 Moscatel is made from 100% Muscat d’Alexandria with 10% pure alcohol added to stop fermentation. This attractive sweet wine has a lovely floral and honey perfume, is quite unctuous on the palate, and has excellent length. Stylistically it is reminiscent of a top-quality Muscat-Beaumes-de-Venise.”