Producer Profile: Finca Viladellops
Along the rocky spine of the Massif Garraf, a calcareous mountain chain that extends to the Mediterranean Sea, in the heart of the Penedès is the hamlet of Viladellops. The town is a tightly-knit group of 18 farmhouses—Viladellops’ history dates back to the year 958 when the order of the Templars flocked to the town […]
Gramona Cava III Lustros Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2011
Very pleased to taste this exquisite biodynamic Cava from Gramona after having visited the winery last year. Pale straw, the 2011 III Lustros Brut Nature is a blend of 75% Xarel·lo and 25% Macabeu. Seven years en tirage has graced it with a degree of depth that’s hard to find in most wines from this […]
Finca Viladellops Penedès Xarel·lo 2016
Located in the Garraf Massif, a rugged mountain massif that extends to the Mediterranean Sea, the soils found throughout Finca Viladellops’ 60 ha estate are low-fertility limestone-based soils studded with marine fossils and sediment. Aged in stainless tanks on fine lees, the 2016 Xarel·lo offers lilting, subtle aromas of pear and apple, prairie flowers, apple […]
Finca Viladellops Penedès Garnatxa 2016
A mineral-infused spine creates palate tension as it ripples through the juicy core of this 100% Garnaxta. Inviting aromas and flavors of roasted strawberries, cherry compote, warm raisin bread, loamy soil, and iron shavings wink in and out of an agile profile. On the palate, it’s medium bodied, and yet it feels light on its […]
Josep Masachs Mas Fi Cava Brut Rosé NV
From the Josep Masachs family, the Mas Fi Brut Rosé is a celebratory shade of salmon. Crafted with 100% estate-grown Trepat, delicate aromas of pie cherry, strawberry, apple blossom, and graham cracker are held aloft on a nose tickling net of fine buttles. It’s fresh on the palate, with just a hint of autolysis—no doubt […]
Josep Masachs Mas Fi Cava Brut NV
I’ll be featuring affordable bubblies and rosé wines in the runup to Valentines, so stay tuned. The Josep Masachs Mas Fi Brut opens with a vinous nose that is classic Cava: white flowers, lemon drop, pear, and apple. More defining features can be sussed out on entry, with crisp bubbles set against an understated, autolytic […]
Juvé & Camps Penedès Gregal d’Espiells 2015
The only still wine I tasted on the day we visited Juvé & Camps. It was late spring and this blossomy white—the 2015 Penedès Gregal d’Espiells-is made from organically-grown Muscat Alexandria. It’s surprisingly light and fresh with vivid tones of rose tea, chamomile crushed underfoot, mango and yellow peach. In the mouth, it’s tarter than […]