Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Xarel.lo was produced with grapes from 50-year-old vines at 300 meters in altitude on the property, fermented in stainless steel and matured mostly in stainless steel and 20% in concrete for four months with the lees. It has 12.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.25. It's varietal, light, fresh and very balsamic, with intense notes of camphor, bay leaf and even mint, medicinal and pungent. It has a clean and bright color denoting youth and a clean and precise palate with mellow acidity and a bitter twist in the finish.
Primarily associated with the Penedès region of Spain, Xarel-lo plays an important role in most Cava blends along with Parellada and Macabeo. Prized for its high levels of acidity and polyphenols, Xarel-lo adds strength, body and a distinct greengage or earthy character to these blends. Somm Secret—Just a few miles northeast of Barcelona, Xarel-lo vineyards around the town of Alella produce highly regarded still wines with fresh lemon and stone fruit flavors.
A superior source of white grapes for the production of Spain’s prized sparkling wine, Cava, the Penedes region is part of Catalunya and sits just south of Barcelona. Medio Penedès is the most productive source of the Cava grapes, Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Penedes also grows Garnacha and Tempranillo (here called Ull de Llebre in Catalan), for high quality reds and rosès.