Producer: Clos Lentiscus

Clos Lentiscus

Clos Lentiscus is the Catalan estate of Manel Avinyo, a specialist in natural cavas produced biodynamically. These sparkling wines hold their own against the finest artisanal champagnes.

Tous ses vins

8 products

Kikiriki Black Red 2018
Clos Lentiscus

Kikiriki Black Red 2018

€35,00

Nuria Muscat of Alexandria White 2018
Clos Lentiscus

Nuria Muscat of Alexandria White 2018

€25,00

Nuria Montanega-Parellada White 2017
Clos Lentiscus

Nuria Montanega-Parellada White 2017

€19,00

Love Potion White 2019
Clos Lentiscus

Love Potion White 2019

€37,00

Night Potion Skin Contact White 2021
Clos Lentiscus

Night Potion Skin Contact White 2021

€26,90

Xarel Lo Domaine Blanc 2016
Clos Lentiscus

Xarel Lo Domaine Blanc 2016

€30,00

Fintan Kerr

Where?

Barcelona is only a half-hour drive away, but the beauty of the landscape is striking, and the immersion in nature is complete: Mediterranean forests (kermes oaks, pines, carob trees) rub shoulders with Catalan scrubland (thyme, rosemary, rockrose, mastic tree, which gave its name to the estate). This is the Garraf Natural Park, an area of ​​gently rolling hills where Clos Lentiscus, in the Penedés appellation, is located. Very hot summers, rainy autumns, cold winters, and mild springs: an ideal climate for producing wine around this magnificent estate where, according to historical documents, Manel Avinyo's family has been established since at least the 14th century. For a long time, the grapes were sold to local cooperatives, but viticulture entered a new era when Manel Avinyo and his brother Joan took over the estate upon the death of their father. Manel named it Clos Lentiscus. From then on, biodynamics replaced conventional practices, the entire harvest went into the house vintages, and organic and biodynamic practices allowed this beautiful estate to regain its former prestige: in the 19th century, its wines were sold in France and as far away as the Americas.

A price of success: Manel quickly earned a nickname, The Bubbleman, a tribute to his talent for vinifying cava, a sparkling white wine produced using the traditional (champagne) method in various regions of Spain, but especially in Catalonia. Sparkling or still, its vintages reflect the winemaker's sunny enthusiasm, his love of nature, and his practice of biodynamic farming, which has transformed this Mediterranean estate into a vibrant and verdant ecosystem.

Terroir, plots, and grape varieties

At an altitude of 225 meters, the Clos Lentiscus vines cover twenty hectares of sandy, clay-limestone soils facing due south. These poor, shallow soils, rich in marine fossils, force the vines to dig their roots deep into the limestone substrate, which explains the delicate minerality of the wines. The grape varieties are made up of native varieties, numerous in Catalonia: Sumoll, Ull de Llebre, Xarel.lo, Malvasia de Sitges, Cartoixà Vermell, and Cariñena (Carignan), accompanied by Tempranillo and Muscat of Alexandria. The vines are ancient, sometimes centuries old.

Growing Methods

The agriculture at Clos Lentiscus is certified organic by the CCPAE (Catalan Council for Organic Agriculture) and has long been de facto biodynamic. No synthetic additives are used in the vineyard, and operations such as planting, pruning, de-budding, and harvesting are dictated by the lunar phases. Pollination is facilitated by the presence of beehives; sheep contribute to fertilization and control of the plant cover. Ringo, the white horse, takes care of the soil work.

Vinification

Since 2010, the work in the winery has been entirely natural, without synthetic additives, exogenous yeast, added sulfites, or filtration. But how do you avoid adding yeast when making cava? Once the first fermentation is complete (sometimes in demijohns), Manel collects the residual yeast from the vats and returns it to the wine, adding honey from his hives to trigger the second fermentation in the bottles.

The Wines

Elegance, purity, and a crisp minerality due to the limestone characterize the productions of Clos Lentiscus, as well as excellent aging potential. The note of controlled oxidation, when present, does not dominate the tasting, and the wines are never deviant. The cavas are renowned for their exuberance, but those from Clos Lentiscus never have more than 2 grams of residual sugar per liter (for your information, the extra-brut can have up to 6 grams). The estate also produces still wines, red, white, and rosé.

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