Recaredo Reserva Particular 2007

Their vineyard-selection cuvée 2007 Reserva Particular currently in the market is from a great vintage in the region, especially for Xarello—even if this is a blend of 64% Macabeo and 36% Xarello, I think this has to be one of the finest vintages, at least in recent times, along with 2001 and 2004. This comes from three separate vineyards and is always a little riper, more developed, and in this vintage, it combines power with freshness, like in the best vintages. The 2007 vintage was dry, and Recaredo's vineyards yielded 33.5 hectoliters per hectare, when the appellation of origin allowed up to 88 hectoliters per hectare that year. The wine has 12% alcohol and an extremely low pH (2.96), which means very healthy acidity. The Xarello fermented in oak barrels and the Macabeo in stainless steel. The wine was put in bottle for the aging with yeasts in April 2008 and was disgorged nine years and nine months later (117 months). The long aging has provided for great complexity of aromas, a fine and elegant reduction and a very integrated palate with very small bubbles that give it a creamy texture. Most of the best vintages are cool and wet, and 2007 was not; it's more average, but still the results are great. 12,220 numbered bottles were produced. They didn't produce 2005 (they jumped from 2004 to 2006), because they consider Macabeo very important, and when it's not up to the level, they do not produce the wine.