2021 Clos dels Guarans Vi Blanc ‘Les Someres’

A blend of Subirat Parent, Xarel-lo Vermell, Malvasia de Sitges and Vinyater, all organically farmed from estate vineyards. The varieties ferment separately with native yeasts in a combination of wood casks, stainless steel and clay amphora. No additives are introduced other than a scant dose of sulfur at bottling. Restrained at 10.5% alcohol. Only 9,000 bottles made. 

Pours a pale lemon green color and has an intense nose of ripe yellow apple, apicrot, quince, ginger, salty minerality and a hint of nuttiness. Intense despite the low alcohol, with high acidity and a great mixture of citrus pithiness, ripe fruit flavors and a savory, spicy, salty quality to its juicy finish. 

When Jordi Raventós was 18 years old, he began a project that would last a lifetime: the recuperation of his family farm, which had fallen into disuse, for the purpose of the defense and propagation of marginalized Catalan grape varieties. Many of the varieties that Jordi planted – Subirant Parent, Vinyater, Llimonero, Malvasia Rosada de Sitges – were in danger of being lost, so his farm now functions as a living shrine to the rich viticultural history of this region.

The name Clos dels Guarans is an homage to the Guarà, the storied Catalan breed of donkey that was immensely influential in the development of European agriculture over the course of the last millenium. The story of the Guarà echoes that of some of the grape varieties on the farm: a historically esteemed breed that is now in danger of extinction. In addition to raising and working with Guarans on the farm, Clos dels Guarans is a member of AFRAC, an organization dedicated to the protection and repopulation of these noble animals.

90 points, Wine Advocate. "The entry-level white 2021 Les Someres is a light and fresh blend of local grapes, Xarel.lo Rosado, Malvasía Blanca/Rosada, Subirat Parent, Vinyater and Llimonera from the Massís del Garraf zone of Penedès. The wine has low alcohol and high acidity but with more character than you expect given the low ripeness of the grapes. But the grapes have strong personalities, and the wine was produced in a precise and natural way with indigenous varieties and fermentation in stainless steel and oak casks. It's clean and tasty, refreshing and easy to drink, with a natural twist. 9,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022."