2007 Gramona Brut Nature III Lustros

75% Xarello, 25% Macabeo. Intense aroma that is both pure, ripe citrus and pear and a yeasty autolytic character after seven years on the lees. On the palate, a strong lees flavour and creamy texture plus that pear fruit. Bright and complex. Piercing freshness on the long finish. (JH)

(made with a dosage of only 3 g/l): Light, bright gold. High-pitched aromas of dried citrus, pungent flowers and herbs and smoky minerals are joined by an emerging buttery nuance. Fleshy, focused and minerally on the palate; tangy acidity and a touch of white pepper lift and sharpen flavors of bitter lemon pith, pear skin and anise. Nicely combines richness and vivacity, finishing very long and sappy, with echoing smokiness and floral character.

The 2007 Gran Reserva Brut Nature III Lustros is a sparkling wine with a long history, aged for seven years in contact with the lees and kept without adding any liqueur d'expédition (Brut Nature). They like a blend of 75% Xarello and 25% Macabeo, which is a constant across the range, but the long aging provides for the telltale Penedès balsamic aromas of camphor, bay leaf and fennel, with a touch of petrol. The palate shows a compact wine, with very good integration of all the components, bright acidity and fine bubbles that provide a silky texture. It feels younger than it is, a good compromise between youth and development. 45,000 bottles disgorged in six different batches.