Partida Creus BN 2020

90% Macabeo, 10% Cartoixa Vermell. Hailing from Piedmont, in the mid 90’s architects, Antonella Gerosa & Massimo Marchiori moved to Barcelona. But once there, they yearned for a slower lifestyle, to grow their own produce and reconnect with the land, so they searched the surrounding areas and in 2001 found a property in Bonastre, just over an hour south of Barcelona. This isolated property, “El Maiol” is surrounded by a protected forest, and was planted with almond and olive trees, interspersed with rosemary, thyme, and Mediterranean scrub. It truly is a magical place and Anto and Massimo were instantly connected to it. Whilst working at El Maiol they discovered an abandoned vine, small and untended. Speaking with the previous owner they learned that the property was once a vineyard, but during the Franco era, the government paid his father to remove the vines and plant olive and almond trees instead. The varietal was Sumoll, a forgotten indigenous grape that once thrived in the Catalan area. With this new information, Antonella and Massimo decided to remove the unwanted trees, recoup the soil and restore the vineyard, planting it with the same Sumoll vines. Whilst researching Sumoll and discovering it was historically one of the most important varieties of the area, Massimo also found other indigenous near-extinct varieties: Vinyater, Cartoixa Vermell, and Garrut. They are giving a new life to these forgotten grapes and playing an important role in recovering the wine heritage of the region. Located at 150-200 meters altitude and just 5 km as the crow flies from the Mediterranean Sea, they have 22 hectares, 6 hectares of which are planted to vines. In addition, they rent other vineyards and work with local farmers to tend them. All the work both at home and in the rented vines is organic and there is no sulfur at any point. The BN is full of spices, ripe fruitiness, a touch of orange zest, and light tannins. Think honeydew, bosc pear, nuances of savory apple, and a whisper of a-typical "funk". Finishes with cloves and bracing acidity. The ideal aperitif! These are wines made to be drunk, to be enjoyed, authentic, and living. They respect their heritage and the heritage of the area they choose to live in, but most important to Antonella and Massimo is to respect the land they now choose to call home.