Muchada-Léclapart Elixir 2023

Muchada-Léclapart is a small biodynamic project in the Marco de Jerez, run by Alejandro Muchada and Champagne vigneron David Léclapart, working table wines from the chalky heart of sherry country in Cádiz, Andalusia. Elixir comes from a mix of old Muscat vines, around forty years of age, and Palomino, grown on albariza, the bright white soil of decomposed marine chalk that holds winter rain deep in the subsoil and reflects the Andalusian sun back into the canopy. That chalk is the source of the wine's salinity and its firm, mineral spine. Farmed biodynamically and made with minimal intervention, this is a still, unfortified white aged in barrel, where slow oxygen exchange and time on the lees build texture and savoury complexity while keeping the fruit intact. The Muscat lends the perfume and the Palomino the structure. The colour is pale gold. The nose is floral and expressive, with white flowers, orange peel and chamomile over almond and beeswax. The palate is dry and textured, its stone-fruit and citrus core carried by a long, chalky, saline finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.