New Arrivals

Organic

Whilst the origins of viticulture at Can Vendrell go back to the middle ages, it was not until 1903 that the Albet family established itself at the estate. Joan Albet i Rovirosa came to Can Vendrell to oversee the replanting of the estate after the Phylloxera plague. This process involved planting American rootstock and grafting the desired variety onto that rootstock. After replanting the vineyards he stayed on as manager of the 210 hectare estate of which 90 hectares were vineyards.

It was the fourth and current generation, Josep Maria Albet i Noya, that introduced organic farming methods to the vineyards. Josep Maria took over the management of the estate after his father's death in 1972 and at the end of the seventies started producing his first organic wines. With the success of that first wine produced specifically for the Danish market, they gradually moved the entire estate over to organic farming.

The family also finally acquired the estate that they had been farming for four generations. At this point, they began a long process of continuous rennovation of the cellar, as well as switching 100% of the estate over to organic farming methods.

We currently control 80.6 hectares of vineyards as well as buying grapes from local farmers who have converted to organic farming, paying the highest prices in the Penedès and advising the farmers to ensure the highest quality.

95 points Vinous
The 2020 Old Hill Heritage Wine shows why this site is considered one of the very best in all of Sonoma. The pedigree is evident. A wine of volume textural depth and intensity the 2020 is a showstopper. Black cherry chocolate licorice and dark spice lend tons of complexity to this statuesque Zinfandel-based field blend. All the elements come together so beautifully. It's hard to fully capture the Old Hill with words as it really transcends descriptors. But when you taste it you know. You know you are tasting a wine from a very special place.

Organic

From Germ??n Blanco of Quinta Mil?? comes this project from Bierzo!

We get tiny amounts of these very small-production wines. Sourced from vineyards that belonged to German's grandmother in Bierzo Alto, just outside of the DO of Bierzo. Garnacha Tintorera, Garnacha, Mencia, Godello, and Do??a Blanca are all planted here and are vinified as a field blend. These 80+ year old vines are situated between 800-100 meters, farmed organically, and of course fermented with native yeasts and little SO2 just before bottling.

It is a blend of Garnatxa Negra, Carinyena, and Syrah from vines ranging from 20 to 65+ years old. Fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts, it is aged in a combination of concrete and French oak barrels. Notes of black raspberries, violets and a bit of garrigue. This medium to full-bodied red shows a chalky minerality, hint of rose petal, and spice. The tannins are fine resulting in a long gorgeous finish. The wine is irresistible now but will age for years to come.

This has yet to be reviewed by the professional wine critics but always scores in the nineties, which I am sure this will as well.

The Black Slate Priorat wines have done it again! Another masterfully crafted expressive Priorat at a very reasonable price. One of their bottlings was our Wine of the Year last year but sadly it sold out. We reached out to the distributor to taste the current releases, each showed its own personality, but one stood above the others. We unanimously loved it but I was curious what the public thought, so I did a little blind-tasting at our Nueva Espana tasting last Saturday. The winner? The same wine we chose, Celler Cecilio Black Slate Gratallops Priorat 2020! This was the third bottle in the tasting, showing more complexity with the added Syrah in the blend. This is a steal at this price. Tastes like Spain’s version of a Rhone Valley wine.

The Black Slate Gratallops is produced by Celler Cecilio located in Gratallops, in the heart of Priorat, and was the first winery registered in the D.O.Ca. It is a family estate dedicated to making and bottling wine since 1942, established and founded by Cecilio Vicent, father of the current owner and winemaker, August.

August ferments his wines in tank with indigenous yeasts, and the wines are macerated for 20–25 days before aging in tank or neutral, large French oak barrels. The Black Slate Gratallops comes from a blend of older and younger vine fruit originating from August’s vineyards near the village. It showcases both the power typical of Gratallops, as well as the charmingly elegant and rustic touch of Vicent’s winemaking.

Black Slate is the idea of famed wine importer Eric Solomon. He went to several of the top Priorat producers and asked them to make him a wine, a value that over delivers. We have sold other Black Slate labels in the past, I am sure many of you are familiar.

Organic / Biodynamic

100% Malvasía de Sitges planted in 1999 on rich alluvial soils. Fermented in stainless and aged for 8 months on its lees. This unique clone of Malvasia is brighter than most while still displaying the beautiful aromatics and texture Malvasia is known for. This is serious wine for a song!

90 points Jeb Dunnuck
As to the reds, the 2019 Cotes Du Rhone Maclura offers plenty of dark fruits, black olive, and peppery garrigue in its rich, mouth-filling, full-bodied style. It’s a classic, pleasure-bent 2019 to drink over the coming 3-5 years.

Review is on the 2018 vintage.

Polished aromas of lovely ripe dark fruit and chocolatey spicy oak, with floral and herbal notes. An expressive and fresh palate with purity of fruit, juicy tannins, and a solid length. Approachable now and will age well. - 97 pts Decanter

Olivier's old-vine La Roche Vineuse bottling comes from a 3 hectare parcel planted in the mid-1950s. The soils are Bathonian and Bajocian era clay-limestone.

The wine is fermented entirely in barrel of different ages: 15% new, 25% one year old, 25% two years old, 25% three years old, and 10% four years old. It is aged in barrel for a year and then in tank for three months before being bottled without being fined.

Organic

90 points James Suckling
A pretty nose of cassis, plums, raspberries, bark and sweet spices. Medium-bodied with sleek tannins. Round, plush and juicy with plenty of fruit and a spicy finish. A blend of garnacha, tempranillo and graciano. Drink now

Garnacha 50%, Tempranillo 40%, Graciano 10%

Organic

A blend of the native Muscat and the non-native but heat-tolerant Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. Well over half of the cuvée is Sauvignon Blanc, which provides both the body and acidity. Depending on the vintage, either one or both Muscat varieties are used in addition to a small proportion of Gewürztraminer to boost the aromatics. An alltitude of 200-400 meters. Hand harvested, fermented in tank for 3 months.

Bring on white wine season, I’m ready! I need a break from these cool weather full-bodied reds. If you are in agreement, then look no further than Gramona Gessami Penedes Blanco 2021. It’s like Spring in a bottle! Gessami is an organically grown blend of Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc, all very aromatic varietals. There is a lovely bouquet of white flowers and orange rind, an interesting combo to say the least. What stands out to me is the texture and fullness of the wine achieved without oak-aging. This is undoubtedly due to the Gewurztraminer. This white is much rounder than a lean New Zealand or French Sauvignon Blanc for instance, but much more refreshing than a full-bodied Chardonnay. Those of you looking for something different to drink this Spring should definitely give this a shot.

Gessami is crafted by Gramona, one of the most prestigious Cava producers. Gramona has a storied history in Penedes, Spain going back to the 1920s! Each generation has brought something new to the estate with Xavier expanding the scientific understanding of lees aging and the inherent properties of Xarel.lo while Jaume has pursued the conversion of all their vineyards – owned and leased – to organic farming as well as converting the family’s vineyards to biodynamic farming as well.

Organic

"The Flying Bicycle" is Germán Blanco's new project in Rioja Baja. With the help of an old friend and fellow oenologist, Javier Collio, Germán sources fruit from certified organic vineyards in the Navarra part of the appellation. The vineyards are dry-farmed and have an average age of thirty-five years old, grown in a mix of clay and limestone. The wine is made in a cellar in San Adrian, following the Milú philosophy: "happy wines made from happy grapes" is how he defines it. The grapes are de-stemmed and fermented in cold temperature from native yeasts. A slight maceration before the end of fermentation helps to make a delicate and fresh wine; no oak is used, and the wine stays in concrete tanks from five to six months

Organic

Organic / Natural Wine
This wine may be reductive when first opened, airation is recommended.

94 pts Wine Advocate
The white 2020 Trenzado was produced with Listán Blanco (and 2% Torrontés Volcánico) grapes from six vineyards from local growers in the western part of the valley on poor volcanic soils harvested even earlier than ever (every year seems to be a record!). It fermented in 2,000-, 2,500- and 4,500-liter oak foudres and some 15% used 500-liter oak barrels, where it matured for 10 months. It’s lower in alcohol, 12%, and has a low pH of 3.07 and 6.44 grams of acidity. Since 2016, the wine is different from the Vidonia because it’s selected by soils; here, all are from the west of the Orotava Valley, closer to Los Realejos, where the soils are poorer and the wines tend to reduction. Putting your nose in the glass is like smelling a volcano, smoky and leesy. The palate is serious, fresh and harmonious, pungent, with tasty, almost salty notes. There is no heat at all in the wine, and the quality is great — the same as before but with more production. It should develop nicely in bottle. 29,000 bottles were produced, a big jump in volume. It was bottled in August 2021.

"Fresh on the nose, vibrant aromas expressing a delicate blend of floral and fruit-driven notes. Rich and full on the palate, extended finish of fruity notes, very light and refreshing finish showing clean minerality and citrus." ~Winery Notes