2004 Turo d´en Mota Cava de Paraje Recaredo

They are releasing the 2004 Turó d'en Mota after they sold the 2005, as they felt that the vintage needed more time in bottle. From this vintage onward it carries the new official denomination of Cava de Paraje Calificado. As they have done since the initial 1999, it comes from a single vineyard that gives the wine its name, and this is only the seventh vintage sold of the 19 they have produced, as it's sold after no less than 12 years (yes, YEARS!) in bottle with the lees. They consider 2004 one of the exceptional vintages in Penedès. It's pure Xarello from 0.97 hectares of vines planted in 1940 on limestone-rich soils. It was put in bottle in May 2005, and the bottle I tasted was disgorged in June 2017, 145 months later. It has great complexity, with smoky and yeasty notes, open yet subtle and elegant, with a sensation of freshness and harmony you only see in the finest vintages, which tend to be wetter and cooler years. They hadn't had as much rain as 2004 until early 2018. It doesn't feel almost 15 years old, it's still young and lively, with a very compact, integrated palate, with tiny bubbles and balsamic flavors with some Mediterranean herbs and that subtle bitterness that is part of the Xarello signature. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Turó d'en Mota, with great complexity, mocha, nuts, honey, a hint of petrol, pollen... Bravo!! The disgorging information is always available on the back label. 2,907 numbered bottles produced. 2018 - 2024.