Blog
Penedès Game-Changer: Pardas Xarello & Collita Roja
Spain's Penedès region of Cava fame introduced me to Celler Pardas last year, and the impact from first tasting their still wines was a game-changer. We've received so many enthusiastic reviews from customers who tried their Malvasia from our first offer which sold out, and now we turn to the winery's two more recent releases. As Spain's re-emergence with wines built on balance and freshness are gaining more attention, this is the winery whose ultra-limited production still feels like its best kept secret.
Today, I'm happy to offer the Pardas Pur Xarello (white) and Collita Roja (red) for $33 and $38 per bottle, respectively.
Pur Xarello is comprised on the variety that serves as one of the three blending grapes for Cava. Here, it sees a wildly different protocol, with hand harvesting, gentle pressing, and then aging split evenly between concrete egg, used French barrique, and new French barrique. Battonage (stirring of the lees) takes place during the 10-day fermentation.
The head-turner here of Xarello comes from the white peach, green apple, orange peel, and white pepper notes that paradoxically finish with a crazy level of focus and precision. The deft use of these three formats for aging bring a texture that integrates everything perfectly. As with their wild success of Malvasia, the Xarello has a magical way of wrapping around the palate with an element of gloss, while simultaneously driving home that fine-grained, incisive minerality from these sandy limestone soils the region is so famous for.
Collita Roja is comprised of 100% old vine Sumoll coming from these same soils. De-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness, and then aged in used French barrique. Sumoll brings dark red and black fruits and very savory spices, all wrapping together with a mildly chalky mineral sensation that also drives through the long finish. The freshness from this dark fruit profile is what really pulls me in, as I expected a roasted or jammy quality on attack, but the underpinning salinity keeps everything unbelievably crisp and vivacious.
Celler Pardas has been on a journey to show the serious side of still wine from Penedès.
Ramon Parera (an oenologist) and Jordi Arnan (an agronomist) founded this estate in 1996, sure of themselves that there was a very different side of Penedès to passionately get behind. While sparkling wine of Cava may be the largest export, it's the organic farming focus of this duo that highlights the best artisanal approach I'm seeing today from Catalonia.
Today, I'm happy to offer the Pardas Pur Xarello (white) and Collita Roja (red) for $33 and $38 per bottle, respectively.
Pur Xarello is comprised on the variety that serves as one of the three blending grapes for Cava. Here, it sees a wildly different protocol, with hand harvesting, gentle pressing, and then aging split evenly between concrete egg, used French barrique, and new French barrique. Battonage (stirring of the lees) takes place during the 10-day fermentation.
The head-turner here of Xarello comes from the white peach, green apple, orange peel, and white pepper notes that paradoxically finish with a crazy level of focus and precision. The deft use of these three formats for aging bring a texture that integrates everything perfectly. As with their wild success of Malvasia, the Xarello has a magical way of wrapping around the palate with an element of gloss, while simultaneously driving home that fine-grained, incisive minerality from these sandy limestone soils the region is so famous for.
Collita Roja is comprised of 100% old vine Sumoll coming from these same soils. De-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness, and then aged in used French barrique. Sumoll brings dark red and black fruits and very savory spices, all wrapping together with a mildly chalky mineral sensation that also drives through the long finish. The freshness from this dark fruit profile is what really pulls me in, as I expected a roasted or jammy quality on attack, but the underpinning salinity keeps everything unbelievably crisp and vivacious.
Celler Pardas has been on a journey to show the serious side of still wine from Penedès.
Ramon Parera (an oenologist) and Jordi Arnan (an agronomist) founded this estate in 1996, sure of themselves that there was a very different side of Penedès to passionately get behind. While sparkling wine of Cava may be the largest export, it's the organic farming focus of this duo that highlights the best artisanal approach I'm seeing today from Catalonia.
Recent Articles
-
Saumur Blanc Royalty: Domaine Guiberteau July 05, 2022
-
Saumur Blanc Royalty: Domaine Guiberteau July 05, 2022
-
Champagne Crescendo: Bérêche Brut Reserve June 30, 2022
-
Maestro of Veneto: Quintarelli Back to 2010 June 29, 2022
-
Pfalz Wizardry: 2020 Koehler-Ruprecht Saumagen June 28, 2022
Tags
- Abruzzo
- Albarino
- Aligote
- Alsace
- Alto Piemonte
- Amarone
- American Oak
- Anjou
- Antonio Galloni
- Apertif
- Arbois-Pupillin
- Argentina
- Ayl
- Baden
- bairrada
- Bandol
- Barbaresco
- Barolo
- Beaujolais
- Beaune
- Beer
- Belgium
- Bien Nacido
- Bierzo
- biodynamic
- Blanc de Blancs
- blanco
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Blend
- Botti
- boudignon
- boulay
- Bourgogne
- Bourgueil
- Bramaterra
- Breze
- Brouilly
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Brut
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- California
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- Cannonau
- Carbonic
- Carignan
- carmenere
- Carricante
- cava
- Cellar
- Cerasuolo
- Chablis
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champagne
- Chardonnay
- Chassagne Montrachet
- chateau
- Chateau Chalon
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavignol
- Chehalem Mountains
- Chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christoph Schaefer
- Cider
- Cinsault
- Clairette
- Clear Lake
- clos
- Clos David
- Clos de la Rue
- Clos Rougeard
- collier
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Columbia Gorge
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Coombsville
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- Cotat
- Cote d'Or
- Cote de Beaune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes du Jura
- Cotes du Rhone
- coulee de serrant
- CR
- Crozes-Hermitage
- CS
- cuvee vigne alte
- Dagueneau
- Dauvissat
- Dijon
- Dolcetto
- Domprobst
- Dry
- Dry Riesling
- Dujac
- Ecueil
- Eola-Amity Hills
- Eric Asimov
- Etna
- Extra Brut
- Female Winemaker
- Fiano
- Fleurie
- France
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- Freisa
- French Alps
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Galicia
- Gamay
- Gang of Four
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Germany
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- Ghemme
- Gigondas
- giulia
- Glou Glou
- Goldkapsel
- Graach
- gran reserva
- Grand Cru
- Granite
- Grenache
- Grenache Gris
- Grosses Gewachs
- Grower Champagne
- GSM Blend
- guiberteau
- Haro
- haut medoc
- Hermitage
- himmelreich
- Hubacker
- huet
- IGT
- Italy
- joly
- Jon Bonne
- José Pastor
- Jura
- Keller
- Kermit Lynch
- Kimmeridgian Soil
- king
- Klaus Peter Keller
- Kupp
- Lambic
- Langhe
- Languedoc
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- leroy
- Les Minots
- Les Riceys
- Lessona
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Louis/Dressner
- Macabeau
- Macon
- Madrid
- Magma
- malbec
- Malvasia
- margaux
- marl
- Mascarello
- McKinlay
- medoc
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Mencia
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Meursault
- Monopole
- Mont Blanc
- Montagne de Reims
- Montalcino
- montbenault
- Montefalco
- Montepulciano
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- Mourvedre
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- Nahe
- Napa Valley
- Naples
- Natural Wine
- Neal Martin
- Neal Rosenthal
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- New California
- New York Times
- Northen Rhone
- Northern Rhone
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- Oak Knoll District
- Old School
- Old Vine
- Old Vines
- Old World
- Oregon
- organic
- PA
- Pardas
- Passetoutgrain
- Patagonia
- Penedes
- pergole torte
- petit verdot
- Pfalz
- pian del ciampolo
- Piedmont
- Pineau d'Aunis
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Ploussard
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- Portugal
- Poulsard
- premier cru
- Provence
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Radda
- Rajat Parr
- raul perez
- red
- Regnie
- Reserve
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- Ribeira Sacra
- Riesling
- riserva
- Rose
- rosso
- Rouge
- Rougeard
- Roussillon
- RR
- Ruwer Valley
- Saar
- Sagrantino
- Saint Aubin
- Saint Esteph
- saint joseph
- Sancerre
- Sangiovese
- Sans Soufre
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Santa Maria Valley
- Sardinia
- Sashi Moorman
- Saumur
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Savagnin
- Savoie
- sergio manetti
- Serine
- Sicily
- Sierra de Gredos
- Skin Fermented White
- Sonoma
- Sonoma Coast
- Sour Beer
- Southern France
- Southern Rhone
- Spain
- Sparkling
- Spatburgunder
- Sta. Rita Hills
- Stainless Steel
- Summer
- Super Tuscan
- Syrah
- Teroldego
- Terroir
- thibaud
- tocai
- toscana
- Touriga Nacional
- Trebbiano
- Trentino
- trocken
- Tuscany
- Umbria
- UNESCO
- USA
- VA
- vacheron
- Vaillons
- Valpolicella
- Value
- Vatan
- Veneto
- venezia
- Verduno
- Vermentino
- Vermouth
- Verzy
- Vieilles Vignes
- vielles vignes
- village
- Villages
- Vinous
- Viognier
- Volnay
- Vosne-Romanee
- Vouvray
- White
- White Burgundy
- Whole Cluster
- Willamette
- Willamette Valley
- Willi Schaefer
- World Heritage Site
- Xarello
- Zev Rovine
- Zinfandel