Description
The Llopart family has been growing grapes since 1385. Over the centuries, they dedicated themselves to the cultivation of grapevines, wheat, and olive trees, until the late 1800s when they committed themselves exclusively to grape growing. In 1887 Llopart released their first Cava, produced in the estate’s old masia—or country house. In the 1950s Père Llopart i Vilarós elevated the operation and began producing remarkable sparkling wines according to the Méthode Champenoise. Llopart were pioneers in the production of sparkling rosé wines and were one of the first sparkling producers to make a rosé from exclusively red grapes. As a founding member of Corpinnat, they soon convinced the association to restrict rosé production exclusively to red varieties.
The Llopart vineyards are certified organic. They sit on a limestone mantle with soils that are a mixture of clay and siliceous components. Due to the primitive sea inlet that expanded and retreated several times, there are layers of marine fossils, coral reefs and sediment layers from old cliffs, rivers, deltas and small lagoons. The vineyards are primarily head-trained bush vines, while younger plantings are on high density trellises. All the vineyards are dry-farmed and tended to by hand, without any machinery; plowing in the oldest vineyards is still done by horse.
Made up of 58% Monastrell, 21% Garnatxa and 21% Pinot Noir, the grapes were sourced from the Clos del Lluis and Clot de Balenyà vineyards. The vines were planted between 1970 and 2000. The grapes were hand-harvested and whole cluster pressed with very gentle levels of pressure, only half of the first press was used. Each varietal was vinified separately, via spontaneous fermentation in small lots. The base wines were aged in tank sur lie for a short period of time before being blended and racked to bottle. The wine was crafted in the traditional, artisanal Méthode Champenoise with secondary fermentation in the bottle. Aged for 18 months in bottle before release. Bright pink in the glass with persistent, creamy perlage. Lush, fruity aromas of ripe red berries mingled with chalky, mineral notes. The palate is round and fresh, bursting with flavors of candied cherry, raspberry and currants. Artfully balanced with plenty of zippy acidity and ripe fruit through the lip-licking finish.
