Alemany i Corrio 'Cargol Treu Vi', Penedes 2020

Alemany i Corrio are proper garagiste producers. They deal with small plots and production is limited in their modest, and partly home built, cellar. For this wine vinification is carried out in 300l oak barrels with fermentation being extended and with the wine then left on its lees to increase the richness and complexity. Lovely aromas of white flowers and ripe citrus with mineral undertones that follow through onto the rich, crisp and dry palate. Lots of complexity here with white smoke, dry flower and vanilla notes joining the fruits along with salty and minerally touches.

A good wine to drink with food especially poultry, creamy risottos, or blue cheese.

In the quaint town of Vilafranca del Penedès in Cataluña, Irene Alemany and Laurent Corrió, the couple who together form Alemany I Corrió, are redefining what it means to produce Penedès wine. Moving away from the region's traditional high-yield practices, they've converted their vineyards to organic farming, shunning chemical treatments and fertilizers in favour of more natural methods. Their cellar is modest with much of the construction and equipment being homemade, including the tanks they built themselves. Although operating on a small scale, they make quite a number of wines using fruit from meticulously selecting small vineyard sites. Among their standout offerings is a distinctive wine made from the indigenous Xarel-lo grape. They employ extended fermentation using indigenous yeast, and the wine is then left on its lees, enhancing its richness and complexity. Their attention to detail and commitment to organic practices makes them a stand-out winery in this corner of Cataluña.