Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 2 to 8 years from vintage.

vintage2 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: lemon zest, white flower, fennel, chalk

Palate: citrus, saline drive, white peach, long mineral close

Single-plot Xarel-lo from chalky limestone (calcari = limestone in Catalan). Biodynamic, vegan, mineral-driven Penedes white.

What it pairs with

With cheese

Garrotxa Our pick Garrotxa is mild, milky and buttery under its grey mould. Penedès Xarel·lo made without new oak brings fennel, citrus and a saline edge with high acidity, which cuts through the firm paste and leaves the fresh goat's milk in front.

History

Single-plot Xarel-lo from chalky limestone soils (calcari) at Pares Balta. Biodynamic, vegan winemaking by Maria Elena Jimenez and Marta Casas.

  1. 2005First Calcari Xarel-lo vintage
  2. 2013Pares Balta becomes Demeter-certified biodynamic
  3. 2024Marta Casas named Tim Atkin Best Winemaker of the Year

Facts

Producer
Pares Balta · visiting guide
Grapes
Xarel-lo (100%)
Classification
DO Penedes
Oak
Stainless steel, no oak
ABV
12.5%
Price
EUR 15 to 25 at retail
Drinking window
2-8 from vintage
First vintage
2005
Biodynamic
Demeter Certified
Organic
CCPAE
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Calcari Xarel-lo

What does Calcari Xarel-lo taste like?

Lemon zest, white flower, fennel and chalk on the nose; citrus, saline drive, white peach and a long mineral close on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity.

When should I drink Calcari?

Drink 2 to 8 years from vintage. Best served young to mid-aged with a brief 15 minute opening.

Is Calcari vegan?

Yes. All Pares Balta wines are vegan and the estate is Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2013.

What food pairs with Calcari?

Esqueixada salt cod salad is the canonical Catalan pairing. Grilled white fish with herbs, oysters, and calcots with romesco are equally strong.

What grapes are in Calcari?

100 percent Xarel-lo from a single chalky-limestone plot, the name calcari being Catalan for limestone.

Tags

biodynamic biodynamic certified dry high acid medium body medium term mood refreshing mood savoury occasion aperitivo occasion dinner party occasion summer old world organic pairs with oysters pairs with shellfish pairs with vegetable forward pairs with white fish price trade up single vineyard still white vegan xarel lo

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