La Salada La Bufarrella 2024

Celler La Salada is the natural wine project Toni Carbó founded in 2011 with his wife Anna, in Les Parellades del Pla del Penedès near Barcelona, working old family vineyards at low altitude with minimal intervention. La Bufarrella is bottled without a denomination, made from Xarel·lo, the Penedès workhorse white, fermented in contact with its skins so the juice takes colour, light phenolic texture and a gentle grip. The old vines give concentrated, characterful fruit, while the Mediterranean climate is tempered enough to keep Xarel·lo's natural freshness, the variety's firm acidity holding the wine bright. Just four months in stainless steel preserves the primary aromatics and keeps it on the fresh, zesty side of orange wine rather than the oxidative. The colour is pale amber. The nose leads with orange and citrus zest, lemon and white flowers, with green apple and a touch of apricot. The palate is dry and lively, the skin contact lending a light savoury grip without weight, finishing crisp and clean. Serve chilled at 10 to 12 degrees.