Wines (12 View)

A good value, easy drinking blend of Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon and Moristel.

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 Wine Advocate
The 2018 Ali??n follows the path of the 2016: it is fresh and elegant and from a cooler (more Atlantic) vintage with more rain than the average and a relatively late harvest between September 28th and October 12th. They used 80% new barrels, with up to 10% made of American oak looking to (in their own words) give more sucrosity and sweetness to the wine, as it's a more vertical, tense and elegant expression of Ali??n. Part of the wine matured in concrete (something they started in 2016), and in 2021 they are experimenting with a 4,000-liter Rousseau foudre, as they want to keep working the texture and freshness. The wine is ripe at 15% alcohol and has a pH of 3.8 and a mellow 4.6 grams of acidity, round and soft. The wine matured until it was bottled in June 2020. The truth is that the wine comes through as subtle, elegant and balanced, with very integrated oak and a nice texture. It's one of the finest vintages for Ali??n. 257,257 bottles, 7,005 magnums and some larger formats produced.

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2018 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes is a blend of 55% Garnacha with 44% Carinena and 1% white grapes. The destemmed and lightly crushed grapes fermented in concrete and oak vats with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in barriques for 13 months. It keeps the more rustic side of their wines but with the finesse of 2018. It's a wine marked by a high percentage of Carinena, but it's velvety, fresh and harmonious but with the dustier tannins. This is the British farmer, rustic but elegant with his Land Rover, the Wellington boots, corduroy trousers and a Barbour jacket... but with a Priorat twang.

93 points Vinous
Shimmering violet. Expressive aromas of cherry, blueberry and pipe tobacco pick up floral and exotic spice nuances with aeration. Concentrated yet energetic in the mouth, offering red and blue fruit, floral pastille and candied licorice flavors sharpened by smoky mineral and spice flourishes. Fine-grained tannins give shape to a very long, spicy finish that leaves a sappy blue fruit note behind.

94 points Wine Advocate
In 2019, Les Terrasses was exceptionally high in Garnacha, the tendency in this cuv??e. Cari??ena suffered more from the mildew of 2020, and the final blend of the 2020 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes was 72% Garnacha and 28% Cari??ena, with 14.5% alcohol. It is gentle, honest and with typicity representing the wines from yesteryear but clean and harmonious, with nice balance and no oxidation or volatility, so an updated version of the traditional wines. 78,104 bottles, 2,000 magnums and 124 double magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2022.

93pts Wine Advocate:
"The much sweeter, honeyed, syrupy 2008 Pedro Ximenez de Anada exhibits a dark amber color along with notes of roasted nuts, molassas, Chinese black tea and honeysuckle. Rich, unctuous and full, it is best served slightly chilled after dinner."

Alvear was founded in 1729 and remains under the control of the same family. They own 307 acres of vineyards in the Montilla-Moriles appellation. Anyone who visits the area recognizes the incredible white soils "albariza or albero", which are dominated by chalk/limestone and the key to the great acids these products possess.

Organic

Antxiola pronounced (ahn-cho-la) is a Txacoli Rosado made by Bodegas Zudugarai. The winery was founded in 1989 the same year that the DO of Getaria txakolina was founded. The Errasti family has been growing grapes and making wine from these vineyards for over 40 years working with the local varieties of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza. Antxiola Rosado is lightly sparkling, crisp and zippy with delicate wild red berry aromas. With invigorating notes of green apple, strawberry, citrus and ocean spray, its refreshing acidity and natural soft effervescence caress the palate. - Distributor Notes

Organic / Natural

Owned by the Suriol family, Cellers de Can Suriol del Castell is known for making wines and vintage Cava with personality in the organic winemaking tradition. They make wines under the Suriol brand which are all estate bottled fruit and then they make the Azimut line from purchased grapes from their neighbors, all of whom work organically. The Can Suriol vineyards and winery are situated in Alt Penedes, Province of Barcelona, Catalunya. This region is justifiably famous for producing fine wines and cava. The cultivation of the Can Suriol vineyards is done by 100% organic methods as certified by the CCPAE (until 2007 NOP certification). - Jenny & Francois

A complex Sherry, exhibiting burnt wood, oxidation and caramel in a medium-bodied, moderately structured package. - WS87