2021 Celler La Salada Malvasia de Sitges 'Sota els Ametllers' Penedes, Spain

Biodynamic. 100% Malvasia de Sitges. This single vineyard is a special plot, surrounded by forests and a grove of almond trees, from which it derives its name, ‘Under the Almonds.’ Highly sand-dominant soils mean that even though the vineyard is relatively young, planted in 2013, the vineyard gives concentrated and powerfully aromatic fruit. Toni and Anna also say it’s one of their favorite vineyards because of how close it feels to the rest of nature: one can always hear the birds singing in Ametllers. The Malvasia de Sitges sees two weeks’ worth of maceration, 80% of the fruit done whole-cluster and foot-pressed, 20% destemmed. Fermented in stainless steel, rested in tank until bottling. Unfined, unfiltered, zero SO2 added. The most kaleidoscopic of the La Salada wines: jasmine, tangerine, sandalwood, sand, gardenia. Ametllers still manages to be light, nimble, and refreshing on the palate, despite its beguiling aromatics we might normally associate with a saccharine quality or weight.