Espectacle: A Wine True to Its Name

Espectacle is a joint project between René Barbier, his late wife Isabelle (who passed away in 2020), and a few close friends: Fernando and Marta Zamora (oenologists and professors at the University of Tarragona), and Charlotte and Christopher Cannan, whose names proudly appear on the label. Together, they craft a magnificent wine that has received high scores since its very first vintage.

For those unfamiliar with René Barbier: René is a legendary winemaker, born in 1950 in Tarragona, Spain. He comes from a long line of winemakers, originally based in France but later established in Spain. He received his training in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Limoux, and gained his first professional experience at the prestigious Moueix wine estates—owners of renowned châteaux such as Trotanoy and Pétrus.

In 1979, René decided to strike out on his own and purchased a vineyard in Priorat. At that time, Priorat was virtually unknown in the wine world, making him a true pioneer of the region. Not long after, he released his first wine: Clos Mogador, which soon became a cult wine. Today, he also owns Nelin and Manyetes.

When the iconic Espectacle vineyard came up for sale due to the previous owner’s retirement, René didn’t hesitate. This extraordinary northeast-facing vineyard is located at 600 meters altitude in La Figuera, a relatively unknown area on the border of Priorat and Montsant. The vineyard is just 2 hectares in size and forms a natural amphitheater with stone terraces. On its steep slopes grow 120-year-old Garnacha vines that produce very low yields, but grapes of exceptional quality. Beyond its outstanding fruit, Espectacle is also considered one of the most beautiful vineyards in all of Montsant.

Espectacle is the only project from which René Barbier has not retired. Since 2022, he has entrusted the vineyard to his son Christian, but he remains closely involved in both the winemaking process and the final wine.

The grapes are harvested by hand and cooled for 24 hours upon arrival at the winery. Only the very best grapes are selected by hand. After a gentle crushing, fermentation takes place in new French oak vats, with regular bâtonnage and remontage over the course of 4 to 6 weeks. The wine is then aged for 15 months in French oak barrels.

The result is a stunning wine. Espectacle is always defined by its floral expression and the elegance of this unique place in Montsant. Each vintage of Espectacle del Montsant is highly sought after and hard to find on the wine market. Critics such as Robert Parker consistently praise the wine, awarding it at least 96 points in fourteen of the seventeen vintages rated so far.

Each harvest yields only about 5,000 bottles, which are carefully allocated to wine lovers across the globe.