Clos Ancestral Blanc 2024

Familia Torres has spent decades reviving ancestral Catalan grapes, and Clos Ancestral Blanc pairs one of them, the high acid Forcada, with the region's workhorse Xarel·lo. The fruit is grown in Penedès, inland from Barcelona, where limestone rich soils and a Mediterranean climate tempered by altitude and sea breeze keep the grapes fresh. Forcada ripens late and holds natural acidity well, which is why Torres brought it back for a warming climate, while Xarel·lo adds body and a characteristic herbal, slightly waxy note. The wine is fermented and rested three months in stainless steel with no oak contact, a choice that keeps the fruit primary and the texture clean. Farming is organic. The colour is pale lemon with green tints. The nose leads with green apple, pear and lemon, lifted by fennel and dried herbs. The palate is dry and crisp, medium bodied, with a stony, saline finish that reflects the calcareous soils. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees. It is an easy match for shellfish, grilled white fish, green salads and fresh goat cheese, and makes a clean aperitif.