Macabeu 'Missatge en una Ampolla' Amos Baneres 2018

Amós Bañeres recounts through this 'Missatge en una Ampolla' his bond with his land of origin and the vineyards that have belonged to his family for generations. A difficult and delicate variety interpreted in a muscular and surprisingly balanced version, far from the more classic sparkling versions.

"Missatge en una Ampolla" is made by Amós Bañeres by vinifying in purity the Macabeu grapes that come from a vineyard planted in 1989 by his grandfather, on soils characterised by the presence of sand and limestone, particularly draining and fine. The terroir is represented by the heights rising around 250 metres above sea level in the area of the village of La Múnia, rather south of the bodega's location, and in the middle of the Penedès region. The dry and not infrequently scorching summers are mitigated by the cool sea breezes that the Mediterranean manages to insinuate into this corridor of highlands. Harvesting is done by hand, picking only the perfectly ripe bunches on several occasions, with a very limited yield of around 20 quintals per hectare. In the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and softly pressed in steel vats, where about 5% of stalks are added in order to bring more substance. Fermentation is carried out using only indigenous yeasts and malolactic fermentation is completed spontaneously, both in steel vats in which the Macabeu matures for 6 months on its skins, without handling. Racking is by gravity and bottling does not involve any filtration.

"Missatge en una Ampolla' by Amós Bañeres wears an amber colour, slightly veiled in appearance. The nose immediately picks up a varied fruity character: sugary notes of white pulp combine with the more aromatic hints of quince and tropical hints of pineapple and papaya, while pungent citrus notes appear in the background. The nose closes on floral nuances and foreshadows the herbaceous impact on the palate, a green and lymphatic idea that then flows into the much riper and more savoury hints of a creation with an unctuous and structured character. Amós Bañeres makes an orange wine of great balance and strength, suggesting interesting pairings with mature cheeses or fine coquilles and spicy preparations.