Wines

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.

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

Lemon-drop, candied-pear and pineapple character, following through to a medium body with a creamy texture and a fruity, tangy finish. Drink now.

Antxiola pronounced (ahn-cho-la) is a txacoli wine made by Bodegas Zudugarai. The winery was founded in 1989 by the Errasti family, the same year that the DO of Getaria-Txakolina was founded. The vineyards are farmed organically, and their Hondurabbi grapes are hand-picked and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then bottled young to retain some of its natural effervescence. The result is a bracingly refreshing wine with a slight spritz, bursting with citrus and minerality. Fresh slices of Granny Smith apple and lemon-lime titillate the palate, with bright acidity giving a mouthwatering finish.

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

90pts- Wine Enthusiast:
Dry fino sherry imported from Spain. From the eighth largest sherry producer in the world, the Barbadillo family has been producing sherry since 1821. Pale straw color. Fresh, yeasty aroma. Light-bodied, clean and crisp with a zippy acidity. Dry, nutty, yeasty flavors. Serve well chilled as an aperitif or during the meal.

#79 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

91 points Wine Spectator
An elegant red, with fine tannins enmeshed with flavors of pureed raspberry and black plum reduction, soft fig, thyme and lavender accents, while a minerally underpinning echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2028.

92 points Wine Advocate
The bread-and-butter wine here is the 2021 Bela, produced with Tempranillo from the village of Villalba de Duero (mentioned on the label), from sandy and clay rich soils on limestone mother rock that delivers powerful but not overripe wines with a short-ish élevage to achieve a fine-boned and fresh wine. The grapes were picked between October 1st and 25th, mostly Tempranillo but some 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot too, and it matured in French oak barrels for nine months. it's ripe without excess, with very integrated oak and a velvety palate with silky tannins. It reminds me of the historical wines from the early 1990s, Valribeño and so on, with some rusticity but very honest and characterful. With time in the glass, it develops a precise note of licorice intermixed with berry fruit and some spices and herbs.

Organic / Natural

‘Burbuja’ comes from a pure Palomino plot of 40-50 years old vines named
‘Plantalina’ in Balbaína Alta, which is the most “Sanluqueño” vineyard of Jerez due to its
proximity to the sea but still boasts the concentration of Jerez. This vibrant vineyard has been
farmed organically for more than 15 years and is of great quality.

Very little winemaking here as this classic ‘Método Ancestral’ wine is bottled
prior to finishing the alcoholic fermentation and before finishing the total consumption of sugars.
The wine next rests horizontally so the lees are in contact with the wine for an additional 8
months. Then, the bottles are positioned ‘boca abajo’ face down so the lees settle into the neck of
the bottle from where they rest for three weeks before disgorging quickly, refilling the bottle
with the same wine from any loss, and finally crown-capping. Released immediately. This delicate and lacy single vineyard ‘Pet- Nat’ Palomino has soft pillowy bubbles that are floral and fresh - the subtle aromas entice with notes of hay, apple pear, lanolin, aloe and sea
spray reminiscent of a long day at the ocean. On the palate, the salty plush foam has just the
perfect amount of structure and fizz to awaken the palate and express its organic, sunny terroir
and natural state of the Palomino grape. A delightful naturally sparkling wine.

90 points Vinous
The 2022 Albariño Legado del Fraile, originating from Rías Baixas, underwent a brief lees-aging in tank. It exhibits a green hue and reveals tropical and herbal notes atop a layer of green apple. With a dry and refreshing profile. This white wine is taut and savory, leaving a rich, enduring finish.

Grapes are pressed and macerated with the skins at cold temperatures for several hours to add aromatics and incorporate the native yeasts. The wine is then seperated from the skins and allowed to warm to begin fermentation. About half way through fermentation the wine is racked off the gross lees and allowed to continue. The gross lees are maintained and used as nutrient additions to help fermentation along. The wine ages on the fine lees for a few weeks with occassional stirring. The wine is bottled filtered and stabalized. Malo sometimes happens but is not controled.

A fruity red with aromas of cherries, raspberries, dried flowers, cinnamon and vanilla. Medium-bodied with soft tannins. Creamy, soft and round. Supple finish.