In 2015 we walked the Carros de Focs in the Spanish Pyrenees. After 4 nights in high mountain huts – albeit excellent Spanish ones – we were craving a bit of comfort. We got down to Espot and checked ourselves into the Hotel Saurat – the best in the village – and, having washed away the distinct odour of 6 days of mountain walking, went out to find a good dinner. Well, to be precise we started with a G&T – as only the Spanish make then – at a bistro overlooking the Riu Escrita – the mountain river that runs through the village. And then dinner. Turns out the hotel’s restaurant – Restaurente L’Avet de Sant Maurici – had a summer terrace overlooking the river. Perfect for a beautiful mountain evening.
We were choosing steaks and we were keen to try some wine from the northeast of Spain – so close to where we were. The recommendation was a wonderful red wine called Llebre made by Tomas Cusine in the Prades Mountains in the Costers Del Segre region, a winery he’d started in 2003. It’s 100% Tempranillo and is delicious: smooth and full-bodied. Just the wine for a grilled steak in the mountain air.
At the time we couldn’t buy this wine in the UK however, the vineyard was happy to dispatch cases directly to us and they arrived in the most amazing ‘crash-proof’ cardboard packaging. (in fact, we have found a number of enterprising vineyards that will do this – which saves on weight in your rucksack if you taste an amazing bottle on a long trip!)
I worry that you can taste wine on a beautiful evening in the mountain air or on a stunning beach and think it is lovely and, when you taste it at home, it has none of the elements that you so enjoyed. Well, the Llebre continues to delight.
We recently opened a bottle of the 2019 with friends while experimenting with barbequing Florentine steaks*. Feedback was: smooth, full, fruity, and delicious. One commented that it could partner lamb better than the stronger flavoured flame-grilled steak. For me, it was just perfect.
You can now buy it in the UK. Right now you can get it from Decantalo where, in June 2022, the price is £9.59, which is outstanding value for such a wine as this. (Just noted that it’s now – Jan 2023 – £11.03. Sadly the impact of inflation and exchange rates!)
* BBQ is from the fantastic Ox Grills who make commercial grills in UK – and make a couple of domestic models too. Quality is fantastic. This is the Mini.
Steaks from our wonderful Salisbury butcher Pritchetts. Mark and Charles are always up for helping with different cuts – like these Florentine steaks.