Pardas Blau Cru 2023

Celler Pardas produce Blau Cru in Torrelavit, in the D.O. Penedès, from the aromatic Malvasía grape. Ramon Parera and Jordi Arnan began the project in 1996 at Can Comas, an abandoned farm of woodland, fallow land and pasture, and made their first wine in 2004 once the vineyards were balanced. The estate lies between 200 and 300 metres, on a mix of soils under an irregular, mild and semi-arid Mediterranean climate, farmed organically. Malvasía is a naturally perfumed variety, and the wine is aged nine months on its lees, where autolysis lends a fuller mid palate and helps frame the aromatics rather than mask them. The colour is a bright straw, the nose floral and open, with white flowers, white peach and apricot lifted by a twist of citrus peel and a chamomile herb note. The palate is dry and textured, the fruit carried by a fresh line of acidity to a clean, gently honeyed finish. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees. It works as an aperitif and with white fish, shellfish or lightly sauced chicken.