2021 Bodega Clandestina Blanc sense papers

WINEMAKER: Ferran Lacruz Bosch
REGION: Catalunya, SP
VARIETY: Xarel·lo
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

100% Xarel·lo from the Fassina vineyard (56 years old) in Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs and as a novelty this year he incorporated grapes from the Molinet vineyard (62 years old), also located in Sant Sebastià. Three separate harvests were completed in September, each approximately a week apart. The first was direct pressed, the 2nd received a 24 hour skin contact, and the 3rd had three weeks skin contact. The first two were aged in demijohn for 4 months, and the 3rd in concrete for 4 months, before blending. Not fined or filtered. Zero added SO2. 12% alc.

"Restrained notes of yellow plum, apple and nectarine. There is an underlying pecan saltiness about it too. Beautiful texture with lots of freshness and a brine-like finish. Juicy and bright, low in alcohol, with gentle phenolics. Finishes with citrus infused acidity, that gives excellent length. Extremely well balanced and crafted. Geez this is great!" - Ryan Larkin

This is the 4th vintage for Ferran Lacruz Bosch, a talented and inspiring young winemaker who is based in Penedès, Catalunya. He prefers to be excluded from any DO though, to separate himself from the mass produced conventional wines which flood the market. Ferran wants to be free from restrictions and limitations - free to experiment and create individual wines that show the heights of what the region can really offer.

Working with mainly Xarel·lo and a little Carignan Blanc, Ferran farms 8ha of bush vines, the majority of which are over 50 years old. He practices biodynamics to create the most healthy fruit possible. In this high altitude, sunny, wind-swept Mediterranean climate, disease pressure is low. The old vines dive deep into the calcareous soils, searching for water and extracting minerals and salts. It is warm during the day, but very cold at night, allowing the grapes to mature fully, while maintaining plenty of acidity and low alcohol.

Ferran believes that the skins are such an important factor in white winemaking, and so all of his wines have been through a skin fermentation to some degree. For the Xarel·lo wines, you can only just sense it though, as there has been no heavy extraction, and the wines show incredible restraint. Ferran likes to experiment with a mix of vessels to see the impacts they have with his wines. He has barrels, concrete tanks, demijohns and amphorae. He is pedantic with all aspects of winemaking, and produces some of the cleanest, most stable natural wines I have ever come across. The wines are immaculate and fine-tuned, yet still retain a sense of soul and character. Pure, fresh and mouthwatering, with subtle structures and textures that keep you going back for more.