Oriol Artigas "Sammay" Negre 2023

Press 4 Red • August 2025 Direct Press Selection

Oriol Artigas began his professional life as a chemist, but soon started moving towards winemaking. First he taught enology at a university in Catalonia and that led him to begin restoring the ancient Roman vineyards that had been ignored in his home region of Alella, about 15 clicks from Barcelona. Since 2011 he has been making some of the most attention-grabbing and delicious natural wines in Spain from 12 hectares of vines, never using sulfur. He continues to teach others to make natural wines, and has inspired a new group of younger winemakers to see the untapped potential of Alella. Together they are keeping the region and it's native grape varieties from going the way of the dodo.

Sammay Negre is 100% Trepat purchased from some of these neighbors and mentees who share his enthusiasm and farming philosophy. At 10% abv, it is easy to crush this thirst-quenching quaffer. Hibiscus, lavender, raspberry, and salty mineral notes with just a touch of funk that gives it a little edge. It might get funkier if it's open for more than an hour but I would be surprised if this took longer than 20 minutes to drink this bottle. Jonathan Kemp