2021 Venus La Universal Venus de Cartoixà
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | |
| Appellation | Montsant (Appellation) |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2034 |
In stock
17 items available
Description
Sara Pérez is the wife of Rene Barbier, who produces the famous Clos Mogador, Espectacle and Manyetes. Sara Pérez is also in charge of the family estate Clos Martinet. She also works closely with her brother Adria at Cims de Porrera. Father José Luis Pérez, one of the most important figures in the Spanish wine world, is proud of his children. He himself remains active in various wine projects. Together with her husband René Barbier (Clos Mogador), Sara Pérez owns and vinifies two magnificent wines at Venus La Universal. As a tribute to every small food manufacturer from the 1920s who wanted to become big, Sara has named this mini-estate Compania Universal de Vinos. There at 'La Uni', as she likes to call it, she has created the mother of all female wines: Venus. And 'Dido' is the more than exemplary daughter of 'Venus'. New is the Dido blanco, a complex white wine based on Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca, with partial fermentation on French oak. The wine deserves a little bottle aging and is best served in large glasses. Elegant 'feminine' wines with a lot of style.
If the red Venus Univesal is already scarce, this is especially true for the white Venus. The white Venus de Cartoixà 2018 was produced with Cartoixá grapes, the local name for Xarello, from half a hectare of 60-year-old vines in Falset, in the clay-limestone zone, and some grapes from a small plot on granite soils that was re-grafted onto Cartoixà from the original plot, which was used for the second time in this wine. The bunches were pressed immediately and the juice fermented slowly in a 600-litre oak barrel and a 190-litre glass demi-bottle with indigenous yeasts. The wine was aged for 20 months in demi-muid oak. No added sulphur was used throughout the process. This is therefore a technically a Vin Naturale of an unprecedented high level. It feels riper and more Mediterranean, with notes of chamomile and dried flowers. The taste is round and soft, with integrated acidity. Only 900 bottles of the 2018 vintage were made and it is a wine that can age (very) beautifully.
Parker (96/100) writes: ".....It has 13.5% alcohol, amazing balance and a salty finish. Sharp and straight"
The 2021 Venus La Universal Venus de Cartoixà is an expressive, refined white wine from Catalonia, made from Cartoixà , the local name for Xarel lo , originating from chalky soils around the Montsant area. The wine is partly vinified with skin contact , which gives it extra structure, complexity and aromatic depth. The style is powerful and refined at the same time, with notes of citrus, dried herbs, fennel, apple, almond and a subtle saltiness, carried by lively acidity and a slightly oxidative tension. This makes the Venus de Cartoixà 2021 a very gastronomic wine, which comes into its own in combination with dishes in which texture, earthy tones, subtle spice or saltiness play a role.
Grilled or roasted fish with hearty garnishes
Think of sea bream with fennel, sea bass with roasted fennel and orange, or cod with white beans and rosemary.
Why this is a good fit:
The wine has enough structure to stand next to more robust fish dishes, while the acidity and salty notes refresh the dish. The spicy and slightly almondy aroma of the wine is a perfect match for Mediterranean garnishes.
Poultry with roasted vegetables or nuts
Roasted chicken with almonds and lemon, or guinea fowl with roasted carrot and parsnip.
Why this is a good fit:
The wine can accompany the lightness of poultry well, but also has enough grip to deal with nutty or caramelized elements in the dish. The aromatic tension of the wine adds extra depth.
Vegetarian dishes with Mediterranean or earthy influences
Roasted cauliflower with tahini, risotto with fennel and lemon zest, or roasted aubergine with herb oil.
Why this is a good fit:
The wine goes beautifully with textured and umami-rich vegetables. The structure of the wine reflects the softness of roasted vegetables and offers enough tension to lift the dish.
White cheeses with a creamy or nutty note
For example, mature goat's cheese, tomme de brebis or old Manchego.
Why this is a good fit:
The salty, slightly oxidative character of the wine fits nicely with the mature, slightly salty tones of these cheeses. The acids refresh the palate after each bite, which provides balance.
Shellfish with herbs and citrus notes
Mussels with saffron and fennel, clams with garlic and parsley, or cockles with lemon butter.
Why this is a good fit:
The subtle maritime note in the wine enhances the salty, mineral taste of shellfish. At the same time, the aromatic complexity of the wine creates a layered whole in combination with spicy and citrus elements.
FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Catalunya |
| Appellation | Montsant (Appellation) |
| Winery | Venus la Universal |
| Grape | Xarel-Lo |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | Yes |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2034 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95+
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$80
Drink Date:
2024 - 2029
Next to the skin-contact whites (Dido), the 2020 Venus de Cartoixà feels very different. This remains a white from direct pressing of the bunches, fermented without skins. 2020 was a very unusual and challenging year. They lost most of the crop to mildew, so they got a very small crop of very concentrated grapes; the juice is very intense and concentrated but silky and balanced, as the plants had enough leaves and few grapes to ripen. It feels a little more like a Priorat this year. This year, it has 14.5% alcohol (like in 2011, but that year they harvested later); all the wines from 2020 have higher alcohol. They only had juice to ferment one 300-liter barrel and one glass demijohn that fermented very fast (a constant in 2020, a year with lots of rain and plenty of nitrogen) and later matured for 18 months. This year feels somewhere between Jura and Burgundy, with a little more ripeness, a touch of honey and pollen and a soft, gentle texture. It develops very slowly in the glass, so I guess it's also going to age nicely in bottle. They don't use any added sulfur in this wine. Only 498 bottles were filled in March 2022.
Venus La Universal is the project from Sara Pérez and René Barbier in Montsant, where they work with nine hectares of their own vineyards plus 35 hectares from 14 growers, all certified organic and exclusively with those grapes (they don't buy other grapes). They produce 160,000 bottles. Since 2021, they have been renting the La Figuera cooperative, and the wine (Sindicat La Figuera) from there is now part of the Venus portfolio. Taking advantage of the facilities from La Figuera, they are doing other side projects (mostly without appellation), such as a Trepat, a wine with flor, perhaps a Cabernet... These Orbita Venus (Venus orbit), the things that are around Venus, will come in the future...
After a very rainy and unusual 2020 (770 liters of rain!), a very challenging year with lots of mildew, 2021 was marked by a snowstorm in January and was a cooler season with generous rain that delivered a crop for lighter wines with tension and contained alcohol. 2022 was warm and dry (only 350 liters of rain) and had multiple heat waves from May. They compared 2022 to 2015 (or 2009), a powerful year, but with less rain, both with good water reserves from the previous vintage and a great development of the plants, which were not stressed. The stress arrived in 2023. They like dry years that come with "wet feet," i.e., with water from the previous vintage. The wines are superb and feel more elegant than ever.
Published: May 16, 2024
The Wine Advocate
RP 96
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$60
Drink Date:
2022 - 2028
The 2018 Venus de Cartoixà was produced with Xarel.lo grapes, scarce in the zone, where the variety is known as Cartoixà. This is a white of strong personality, savage and characterful. This 2018 took me back to the 2016 that blew my mind. This wine needs some time in bottle, and sometimes they keep one vintage and release the following one before it, as it's sometimes a little reductive. This 2018 was released in May 2022 and is now very expressive, approachable and mineral, sharp and fresh, with pungent flavors and very good length. It has 13.5% alcohol, amazing balance and a salty finish. Sharp and straight. Only 900 bottles were filled in July 2019.
In the future, there will be three new wines from Venus la Universal, an orange Macabeo with eight months with skins in amphorae and demijohn, a rosé from La Figuera made with Garnacha on limestone, and a sharp red from Garnacha on granite soils. They currently produce some 180,000 bottles. Amazing wines of character.
Published: Sep 30, 2022
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
Venus la universal is the project of Sara Pérez she is the wife of Rene Barbier who makes the famous Clos Mogador, Espectacle and Manyetes. Sara Pérez is also in charge of the Clos Martinet family domain. In addition, she works closely with her brother Adria on Cims de Porrera. Father José Luis Pérez, one of the most important figures in the Spanish wine world, is proud of his children. He himself remains active in various wine projects. Sara Pérez owns and vinifies two beautiful wines on Venus La Universal, together with her husband René Barbier (Clos Mogador). As a tribute to every small food manufacturer from the 1920s who wanted to become big, Sara has baptized this mini-domain Compania Universal de Vinos. There on 'La Uni', as she likes to call it, she has created almost the mother of all feminine wines: Venus. And 'Dido' is the more than exemplary daughter of 'Venus'.
René and Sara took the goddess Venus as inspiration for this project. One of their goals is therefore to "interpret femininity through a bottle of wine". This may seem like a strange choice for a bodega working out Grenache and Carignan wines in Southern Catalonia, but it makes sense once you've tasted it. These are incredibly elegant, refined, sensual expressions from the Denominació d'Origen Montsant, with understated alcohol levels and enormous texture.
The grapes for the wines come from vineyards owned by four different grape-growing families in Falset, as well as another small plot owned by Venus. You could call Venus a negociative project, but it is more correct to say that it is a partnership between these four families and René and Sara. Venus is the sole customer of these small growers, so their grapes are grown in accordance with the strict ecological standards set by the couple. The grapes for Dido come from the Falset area, from vineyards with soils based on decomposed granite called sauló. These soils are low in organic matter and contribute to the production of grapes with great ripeness and fruit aromas. The grapes for Venus come from clay-limy soils between Marçà and Guiamets. These soils promote a slow, elegant and complex maturity.
Order Venus la Universal wines online at Grand Cru wines
You can of course buy Venus la Universal wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grand Crus!
Sara Pérez is the wife of Rene Barbier, who produces the famous Clos Mogador, Espectacle and Manyetes. Sara Pérez is also in charge of the family estate Clos Martinet. She also works closely with her brother Adria at Cims de Porrera. Father José Luis Pérez, one of the most important figures in the Spanish wine world, is proud of his children. He himself remains active in various wine projects. Together with her husband René Barbier (Clos Mogador), Sara Pérez owns and vinifies two magnificent wines at Venus La Universal. As a tribute to every small food manufacturer from the 1920s who wanted to become big, Sara has named this mini-estate Compania Universal de Vinos. There at 'La Uni', as she likes to call it, she has created the mother of all female wines: Venus. And 'Dido' is the more than exemplary daughter of 'Venus'. New is the Dido blanco, a complex white wine based on Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca, with partial fermentation on French oak. The wine deserves a little bottle aging and is best served in large glasses. Elegant 'feminine' wines with a lot of style.
If the red Venus Univesal is already scarce, this is especially true for the white Venus. The white Venus de Cartoixà 2018 was produced with Cartoixá grapes, the local name for Xarello, from half a hectare of 60-year-old vines in Falset, in the clay-limestone zone, and some grapes from a small plot on granite soils that was re-grafted onto Cartoixà from the original plot, which was used for the second time in this wine. The bunches were pressed immediately and the juice fermented slowly in a 600-litre oak barrel and a 190-litre glass demi-bottle with indigenous yeasts. The wine was aged for 20 months in demi-muid oak. No added sulphur was used throughout the process. This is therefore a technically a Vin Naturale of an unprecedented high level. It feels riper and more Mediterranean, with notes of chamomile and dried flowers. The taste is round and soft, with integrated acidity. Only 900 bottles of the 2018 vintage were made and it is a wine that can age (very) beautifully.
Parker (96/100) writes: ".....It has 13.5% alcohol, amazing balance and a salty finish. Sharp and straight"
The 2021 Venus La Universal Venus de Cartoixà is an expressive, refined white wine from Catalonia, made from Cartoixà , the local name for Xarel lo , originating from chalky soils around the Montsant area. The wine is partly vinified with skin contact , which gives it extra structure, complexity and aromatic depth. The style is powerful and refined at the same time, with notes of citrus, dried herbs, fennel, apple, almond and a subtle saltiness, carried by lively acidity and a slightly oxidative tension. This makes the Venus de Cartoixà 2021 a very gastronomic wine, which comes into its own in combination with dishes in which texture, earthy tones, subtle spice or saltiness play a role.
Grilled or roasted fish with hearty garnishes
Think of sea bream with fennel, sea bass with roasted fennel and orange, or cod with white beans and rosemary.
Why this is a good fit:
The wine has enough structure to stand next to more robust fish dishes, while the acidity and salty notes refresh the dish. The spicy and slightly almondy aroma of the wine is a perfect match for Mediterranean garnishes.
Poultry with roasted vegetables or nuts
Roasted chicken with almonds and lemon, or guinea fowl with roasted carrot and parsnip.
Why this is a good fit:
The wine can accompany the lightness of poultry well, but also has enough grip to deal with nutty or caramelized elements in the dish. The aromatic tension of the wine adds extra depth.
Vegetarian dishes with Mediterranean or earthy influences
Roasted cauliflower with tahini, risotto with fennel and lemon zest, or roasted aubergine with herb oil.
Why this is a good fit:
The wine goes beautifully with textured and umami-rich vegetables. The structure of the wine reflects the softness of roasted vegetables and offers enough tension to lift the dish.
White cheeses with a creamy or nutty note
For example, mature goat's cheese, tomme de brebis or old Manchego.
Why this is a good fit:
The salty, slightly oxidative character of the wine fits nicely with the mature, slightly salty tones of these cheeses. The acids refresh the palate after each bite, which provides balance.
Shellfish with herbs and citrus notes
Mussels with saffron and fennel, clams with garlic and parsley, or cockles with lemon butter.
Why this is a good fit:
The subtle maritime note in the wine enhances the salty, mineral taste of shellfish. At the same time, the aromatic complexity of the wine creates a layered whole in combination with spicy and citrus elements.
FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Catalunya |
| Appellation | Montsant (Appellation) |
| Winery | Venus la Universal |
| Grape | Xarel-Lo |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | Yes |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2034 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95+
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$80
Drink Date:
2024 - 2029
Next to the skin-contact whites (Dido), the 2020 Venus de Cartoixà feels very different. This remains a white from direct pressing of the bunches, fermented without skins. 2020 was a very unusual and challenging year. They lost most of the crop to mildew, so they got a very small crop of very concentrated grapes; the juice is very intense and concentrated but silky and balanced, as the plants had enough leaves and few grapes to ripen. It feels a little more like a Priorat this year. This year, it has 14.5% alcohol (like in 2011, but that year they harvested later); all the wines from 2020 have higher alcohol. They only had juice to ferment one 300-liter barrel and one glass demijohn that fermented very fast (a constant in 2020, a year with lots of rain and plenty of nitrogen) and later matured for 18 months. This year feels somewhere between Jura and Burgundy, with a little more ripeness, a touch of honey and pollen and a soft, gentle texture. It develops very slowly in the glass, so I guess it's also going to age nicely in bottle. They don't use any added sulfur in this wine. Only 498 bottles were filled in March 2022.
Venus La Universal is the project from Sara Pérez and René Barbier in Montsant, where they work with nine hectares of their own vineyards plus 35 hectares from 14 growers, all certified organic and exclusively with those grapes (they don't buy other grapes). They produce 160,000 bottles. Since 2021, they have been renting the La Figuera cooperative, and the wine (Sindicat La Figuera) from there is now part of the Venus portfolio. Taking advantage of the facilities from La Figuera, they are doing other side projects (mostly without appellation), such as a Trepat, a wine with flor, perhaps a Cabernet... These Orbita Venus (Venus orbit), the things that are around Venus, will come in the future...
After a very rainy and unusual 2020 (770 liters of rain!), a very challenging year with lots of mildew, 2021 was marked by a snowstorm in January and was a cooler season with generous rain that delivered a crop for lighter wines with tension and contained alcohol. 2022 was warm and dry (only 350 liters of rain) and had multiple heat waves from May. They compared 2022 to 2015 (or 2009), a powerful year, but with less rain, both with good water reserves from the previous vintage and a great development of the plants, which were not stressed. The stress arrived in 2023. They like dry years that come with "wet feet," i.e., with water from the previous vintage. The wines are superb and feel more elegant than ever.
Published: May 16, 2024
The Wine Advocate
RP 96
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$60
Drink Date:
2022 - 2028
The 2018 Venus de Cartoixà was produced with Xarel.lo grapes, scarce in the zone, where the variety is known as Cartoixà. This is a white of strong personality, savage and characterful. This 2018 took me back to the 2016 that blew my mind. This wine needs some time in bottle, and sometimes they keep one vintage and release the following one before it, as it's sometimes a little reductive. This 2018 was released in May 2022 and is now very expressive, approachable and mineral, sharp and fresh, with pungent flavors and very good length. It has 13.5% alcohol, amazing balance and a salty finish. Sharp and straight. Only 900 bottles were filled in July 2019.
In the future, there will be three new wines from Venus la Universal, an orange Macabeo with eight months with skins in amphorae and demijohn, a rosé from La Figuera made with Garnacha on limestone, and a sharp red from Garnacha on granite soils. They currently produce some 180,000 bottles. Amazing wines of character.
Published: Sep 30, 2022
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Venus la universal is the project of Sara Pérez she is the wife of Rene Barbier who makes the famous Clos Mogador, Espectacle and Manyetes. Sara Pérez is also in charge of the Clos Martinet family domain. In addition, she works closely with her brother Adria on Cims de Porrera. Father José Luis Pérez, one of the most important figures in the Spanish wine world, is proud of his children. He himself remains active in various wine projects. Sara Pérez owns and vinifies two beautiful wines on Venus La Universal, together with her husband René Barbier (Clos Mogador). As a tribute to every small food manufacturer from the 1920s who wanted to become big, Sara has baptized this mini-domain Compania Universal de Vinos. There on 'La Uni', as she likes to call it, she has created almost the mother of all feminine wines: Venus. And 'Dido' is the more than exemplary daughter of 'Venus'.
René and Sara took the goddess Venus as inspiration for this project. One of their goals is therefore to "interpret femininity through a bottle of wine". This may seem like a strange choice for a bodega working out Grenache and Carignan wines in Southern Catalonia, but it makes sense once you've tasted it. These are incredibly elegant, refined, sensual expressions from the Denominació d'Origen Montsant, with understated alcohol levels and enormous texture.
The grapes for the wines come from vineyards owned by four different grape-growing families in Falset, as well as another small plot owned by Venus. You could call Venus a negociative project, but it is more correct to say that it is a partnership between these four families and René and Sara. Venus is the sole customer of these small growers, so their grapes are grown in accordance with the strict ecological standards set by the couple. The grapes for Dido come from the Falset area, from vineyards with soils based on decomposed granite called sauló. These soils are low in organic matter and contribute to the production of grapes with great ripeness and fruit aromas. The grapes for Venus come from clay-limy soils between Marçà and Guiamets. These soils promote a slow, elegant and complex maturity.
Order Venus la Universal wines online at Grand Cru wines
You can of course buy Venus la Universal wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grand Crus!