Improvisacio 2021

Wine description for Improvisacio 2021 from Enric Soler

Colour & appearance

Brilliant straw yellow with lively light green reflections that reflect the youth and freshness of this Catalan Xarello.

Nose

A fascinating composition of Mediterranean herbal wildness and restrained elegance. The Improvisacio 2021 reveals a complex bouquet of dried herbs - Thyme, Marjoram and Oregano - underpinned by a fine nuttiness of almonds and hazelnuts. The fruit flavours of quince and Nashi pear fade modestly into the background, while floral notes of almond blossom and lime blossom add an ethereal dimension. The mineral presence of limestone is unmistakable - a fingerprint of the terroir.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows impressive precision. The initially restrained fruit unfolds in waves of yellow apples and tangerine zest, carried by a vibrant but never intrusive acidity structure. The bitters - a characteristic feature of great Xarello wines - lend the wine structure and length. The finish is cool, almost mentholated, with an astonishing persistence characterised by dried herbs and chalky minerality. Eight months on the lees in a combination of concrete eggs and Stockinger barrels have given this wine remarkable textural depth without masking its Mediterranean identity.

General information

Enric Soler's Improvisacio 2021 comes from three different plots in the Penedès: Sisqueta, Darrere Casa with 50-year-old vines and Espenyalluchs. The 2021 vintage was characterised by an interplay of drought and timely rainfall, cool nights and a late heatwave. These climatic conditions led to a slow, balanced ripening process for the grapes. With 12.5% alcohol and minimal residual sweetness, the wine presents itself as a prime example of modern Catalan winemaking: unfiltered, unclarified and with maximum terroir expression.

Food pairing suggestions

An ideal companion to Grilled sea bass with Fennel vegetables, Paella with seafood or Manchego cheese medium maturity. The herbal component also harmonises wonderfully with Catalan tapas like Pan con tomato and Escalivada.

Special features

Improvisacio embodies Enric Solers philosophical approach to winemaking - the combination of traditional Catalan wine culture with modern ageing methods. The combination of concrete eggs and wooden barrels gives the wine its unique structure, while the absence of filtration preserves its natural complexity. A wine that perfectly balances the tension between wild Mediterranean expressiveness and controlled elegance - a truly authentic expression of the Penedès terroir.