Venus de Cartoixà is the pure expression of Xarel·lo, locally known as Cartoixà, sourced from one hectare of old vines around Falset. The 2022 is a pronounced vintage distinguished by freshness, refinement, and a restrained, almost fragile elegance. The 2021 was rated 96 points by Wine Advocate.
Origin and vinification
If the red Venus Universal is already scarce, this applies even more so to the white Venus. The white Venus de Cartoixà was produced with Cartoixá grapes, the local name for Xarello, from half a hectare of 60-year-old vines in Falset, in the clay and limestone zone, and some grapes from a small plot on granite soils that was re-grafted onto Cartoixà from the original plot, which was used for the second time in this wine. The bunches were pressed immediately and the juice fermented slowly in a 600-liter oak barrel and a 190-liter glass carboy with indigenous yeasts. The wine aged for 20 months in demi-muid oak. No added sulfur was used throughout the entire process. It is therefore technically a Vin Naturale of an unprecedentedly high level. It feels riper and more Mediterranean, with notes of chamomile and dried flowers. The taste is round and soft, with integrated acidity. Only 900 bottles of the 2022 vintage were produced, and it is a wine that can age (very) beautifully.
Color, smell and taste
Bright golden yellow in color. On the nose subtle and layered, with notes of dried yellow flowers, pollen, and a slight reductive touch that contributes to complexity. There is a savory undertone reminiscent of umami, with nuances of soy sauce and broth, giving the wine a gastronomic character.
On the palate, delicate and refined, with an almost fragile texture. The acidity is lively yet perfectly integrated. The wine has less concentration than in warmer years, but precisely because of this, more tension and transparency. The finish is long, mineral, and subtly saline. This is not an exuberant wine, but one of inner energy and precision.
