Enric Soler Xarel.lo/Malvasia 'Istiu' 2019

$49.00 Sale

50% Xarello 50% Malvasia de Sitges
Organic/Biodynamic
Catalonia, Spain
From the importer-
With more than fifteen vintages under his belt, Enric Soler has definitively proven the grandiose potential of still Xarel-lo from Catalonia. Historically seen as the base wine for an ocean of Cava, Soler began in 2004 with a radically different approach, treating his native terroir and grapes as if they had the potential to make some of the world’s best white wines. It turns out that Soler was entirely correct, and today, his miniscule production is some of the most allocated in Spain.

Soler began his career as a sommelier, winning the “nariz de oro” award for best sommelier in Spain in 1996. While teaching at his wine academy in Barcelona, local producers would often bring him bottles to get his advice. After the loss of his grandfather, Soler began making his own wines from an inherited small parcel planted in 1945 called Vinya dels Taus.
50% Xarello, 50% Malvasia de Sitges. From a plot right next to Enric's winery that comprises 0.2 Ha. Xarello is 42 years old and Malvasia is 13 years old. Sandy calcareous clay at 250 meters altitude. Harvested September 19th (xarello) and September 30th (malvasia). Hand-harvested in 15 kilo bins and whole cluster pressed. Settled and racked to two 3 year-old Burgundy barrels of 300 liters. Spontaneous fermentation in barrel then aged on the lees for 8 months with no battonage. Racked to stainless steel for assemblage then bottled at the end of May with only SO2 added. 2 barrels (61 cs) produced.