If you're a wine lover, you've surely heard of aging in wooden barrels. But at Celler Piñol, we go further and focus on an innovative and varietal-friendly aging technique: cement and granite barrels . This technique allows us to enhance the wine's primary aromas, avoiding the excessive influence of tertiary aromas and achieving an authentic expression of the terroir.
Why do we use cement and granite eggs?
The choice between one material or another depends on the effect we want to achieve in the wine:
- Cement egg : More porous, allowing for micro-oxygenation that adds complexity and volume to the palate. However, it does reduce the freshness slightly.
- Granite egg : Less porous, it better preserves the freshness of the wine, enhancing its saline and mineral profile.
The Granite Egg: A Great Ally for Garnacha Blanca
In the case of White Grenache , the use of a granite egg allows us to enhance its essence. Its ovoid shape generates a natural movement of the lees inside thanks to the temperature changes in the winery, increasing its smoothness and volume on the palate. This process promotes a fresh and saline profile , with notes of dry stone, balsamic, and aniseed , ideal for pairing with shellfish and fish .
Furthermore, its ability to improve wine's durability makes it an ideal option for elegant and sustained bottle aging.
L'Ànima de l'Avi Arrufí 2023: The Maximum Expression of White Garnacha
A clear example of the success of this technique is L'Ànima de l'Avi Arrufí 2023 , a 100% white Grenache wine from old vines on five estates with different soils and altitudes. For its vinification, we combine stainless steel tanks with aging divided between a cement egg and a granite egg . This combination allows us to achieve the perfect balance :
✅ Volume and smoothness provided by the cement egg
✅ Freshness and minerality thanks to the granite egg
The result? A unique and vibrant wine, with nuances of dry stone, aniseed, balsamic, and fresh notes , that captures the purity of the white Grenache and our commitment to innovative and respectful aging.
