2011 Can Mayol Loxarel "MM" Gran Reserva Brut Nature Classic Penedes

Notes

Can Mayol, which bottles under the trademarked name "Loxarel," is a winery that has been farming organically for more than a decade. The Mitjan family, owners of Can Mayol, also employ some biodynamic treatments. They keep animals, including chickens, a horse and a donkey named Garnatxa. While the focus is on "Brut Nature" (no dosage added) sparkling wine production, they also produce some very interesting still wines as well. In their chalky, high altitude vineyards (above 2,400 feet for their highest vines, among the highest in the Penedès D.O.), Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive and pick up an incredible minerality, which makes these wines wonderfully distinctive and very exciting to drink. Consisting of 60% Pinot Noir (the remaining 40% is Xarel-lo Vermell), this has the requisite Pinot Noir round, fleshy fruit and mouthfeel, but with mouth watering chalkiness as well. As with all their other wines we carry, MM is bottled Brut Nature, so what you are tasting is the product of distinctive, organically farmed fruit on a great calcareous site, fermented dry and aged on its lees for over 5 years- without any added sugar. (Joe Manekin, K&L Spanish wine buyer)