2015 Recaredo Corpinnat Serral del Vell Brut Nature Gran Reserva BIO

The Recaredo Serral del Vell Brut nature Long Aged Cava is the full name. Elegance, Power and full of character is the short summary. The very calcareous soils and microclimate of the Serral del Vell plateau give each vintage an unmistakable character. The vineyards of Serral del Vell belong to the territory of Corpinnat, the birthplace of great sparkling wines in the historic wine-growing area of ​​the Penedès south of Barcelona, ​​​​where the production of sparkling wines was started at the end of the 19th century according to the traditional method.
Single-estate character

The Serral del Vell is an area of ​​great beauty - an area full of Xarel·lo and Macabeu vineyards, where the imposing Montserrat mountain watches over a space that is topographically and geologically very different from the rest of its surroundings.
The Serral del Vell estate stands on a small plateau (serral) carved into the Bitlles Valley Highlands with winding gullies that flow into the Lavernó ravine. The plateau has several large, gently sloping terraces that people have formed by building ridges and embankments.

The Recaredo Serral del Vell is grown according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture, one step further than organic. The biodynamic approach allows Recaredo to make wines that are rich in nuances, have excellent aging potential and respect the landscape from which they come. The plant cover is allowed to grow spontaneously between the tendrils. These ground covers play a vital role in loosening the soil, regulating water retention and drainage (essential in a dry farming system) and helping to promote biodiversity. The harvest took place from 12 to 19 August at an unusual speed: in just 18 days, all the family vineyards were harvested by hand.

The Serral del Vell is named after the place (paraje) where the grapes are grown. The Serral del Vell is a blend of 55% Xarello and 45% Macabeo forms. It also carries the new Paraje Calificado category to indicate that this is a unique cava. The soils are very rich in limestone, with 6% to 18% active limestone, depending on the specific area. The wine that is aged in the bottle may do this in peace for a minimum of 5 years and 3 months (ie 63 months). It has a complex nose, with yeasty aromas and lots of balsamic, fennel, bay leaf and Mediterranean herbs. The taste is compact and balanced, with a lot of freshness and that characteristic bitterness of the Xarello. No sugars have been added (so a Brut Nature). The wine is certified organic like all Recaredo wines and is very low in sulphur. As an indication, this Serral del Vell (like all wines from Recaredo) has only 35 mg/l of sulphite/sulfur dioxide, while 150 mg/l is the maximum allowed amount by the EU for organic white wines, so almost a factor 4.5 lower . The wine is also suitable for vegans

Since 2006, all 50 hectares of their vineyards are cultivated according to DEMETER regulations. This makes this Cava a certified organic cava. The grapes are picked by hand and fermented separately for each plot in their own cellar. They only use 40% of the must, only the first juice that is released after bruising is good enough for their cava. The fermentation of the must takes place partly in oak and partly in a steel tank. After fermentation and assembly of the still wine, the bottles are filled and capped with a natural cork to disappear for a period of between 30 and 120 months in the beautiful cellars of Recaredo. Every 14 months the bottles are shaken and moved to 'move' the yeast present in the bottle. According to Ton Mata, this ensures a better development of the taste. When the bottles are ready for disgorgement, they are moved to Pupitres where they are turned by hand so that the yeast plug slowly descends to the neck.

ABOUT CORPINNAT

Recaredo is part of Corpinnat which was founded in 2016 Corpinnat by a number of (high-end) producers who have distanced themselves from DO Cava mainly because no distinction can be made in quality in the CAVA model. Corpinnat is therefore, just like Cava (or Champagne), a sparkling wine that is made via the traditionelle method, i.e. by a second fermentation in the bottle and this creates the bubbles and this is a brand name founded by a number of quality producers who wanted to distinguish With Corpinnat as protected brand (such as a Grandcru or a Grande Reserva) not only determines the region for the naming, but also the terroir and that is much more than just the area; it is also about climate, grape varieties, the vineyard and the winery.