2022 Vinya del Coll, Vincent Pastorello y Pepe Raventos

Vinya del Coll is a cuvée from a tiny plot 50+ year old vines, planted on pure limestone soil, farmed biodynamically, and with just 2,000 bottles produced.It’s made by one of Catalonia’s most gifted viticultores, Pepe Raventós, in collaboration with London sommelier Vincent Pastorello of Coya and Amazonico.The grape is Xarel·lo, which is best known as a constituent part of Cava blends. But here, from a miniscule parcel of vines planted in 1967, high in the hills above Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, 25 miles west of Barcelona, the grape achieves new levels of vibrancy.The 2022 is characterised by shimmering acidity, salinity and aromas of citrus, seaspray, blossom and green apples, with the subtlest hint of honeysuckle. It’s immensely long and concentrated, and – without much experience of tasting aged Xarel·lo – one can’t help but ponder, with real excitement, how brilliantly it will age.