Case of Hermós Corpinnat 2021 | $66.00 per bottle

$66.00 per bottle | $792.00 case of 12

The Origin: The Pardas sparkling, bottled under Corpinnat, the group of Penedès growers who left Cava to hold themselves to stricter rules. Pardas only began making sparkling wine in 2017, more than a decade after its first still wines. The Xarel·lo comes from the Rebato vineyard and the Sumoll from El Mus, on shallow soils that are poor in organic matter and high in active lime. No herbicides or pesticides, no ploughing, cover crops left on the soil. This is our first shipment of the 2021; the last vintage we brought in was 2019. See the full range from Celler Pardas.

The Profile: Like the Pardas still wines, Hermós is about salt and minerality rather than fruit: a serious white that happens to have bubbles. 80% Xarel·lo, 20% Sumoll. Sparkling in the Penedès is traditionally made only from white grapes, and adding a red one changes the wine: Xarel·lo is usually the acid backbone, but Sumoll is even more acidic. Dense and textured, with fine, plentiful bubbles. Ramon is confident putting it alongside Champagne, and so are we. 95+ points, Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate. Drinking now through 2030.

The Craft: 2021 was a great vintage for the zone and for this wine, with naturally contained yields. Picked by hand on 24–25 August 2021, early, as sparkling needs. Ramon says the estate's sparkling is easier to get right than its still wines, because the fruit is picked before late-season heat and rain can complicate ripening. Both grapes were pressed directly and co-fermented with local yeasts at 16–17°C for 20 days in stainless steel, then seven months in steel before the second fermentation in bottle. More than 40 months on its lees in bottle before disgorgement in late 2025.

The Pairing: Serve at 6–8°C. Oysters, fried anything, jamón, roast chicken, or the start of a long dinner.