New Landings from Nuria of Clos Lentiscus

We have just received a micro-shipment of sparkling wines from Núria Aviñó, the 11th generation of winemaker at Clos Lentiscus. All from her third vintage in 2018, conducted at only 18 years of age, the trio of wines available for release now are everything they should be. Carrying the signature finesse that has become synonymous with the family name, centuries of experience apparent, a celebration of local varieties, presented at their best.

All three wines sport remarkably low alcohol, maxing out at 10.5%. These are easy-drinking wines. Núria has learned how to handle these varieties from a young age, and the balance she has succeeded in achieving here is remarkable.

Working with the estate’s old vines which were all planted in the early ’70s and farmed biodynamically for decades, Núria harvests the Montonega (Parellada), Muscat d’Alexandria, and Cartoixa Vermell at peak ripeness. These are her preferred varieties – all capable of producing, in the right hands, lighter wines without sacrificing depth or complexity. The grapes undergo direct pressing and cold decantation which lasts for 36 hours, preserving the aromatics of each variety. The juice then ferments spontaneously in 55-litre demijohn. Once bottled, each wine is allowed to finish its fermentation in the bottle and is left to age in their cellar for a minimum of 24 months before being disgorged. At no point is anything added, and all wines have no dosage.

Limited quantities of each wine are available now.