Julia Bernet Vinyer de Muntanya 'U' Brut Nature Corpinnat, Penedes, Spain, 2022

FYI: Corpinnat is not cava; it is a designation for high-quality, organic sparkling wines produced by a group of producers who withdrew from the DO Cava due to disagreements over unsustainable business practices and low quality standards within the larger Cava D.O. Corpinnat wines must adhere to stricter rules than Cava, including using only hand-harvested, organic grapes, all wine being vinified at the estate, and meeting rigorous aging requirements.

Overview of the Wine
Bernet started this project in 2003, guiding his work by a philosophy he calls “Closed Circle” production (he designates this on his corks), a concept based on his supervision of the entire process from start to finish. Buying grapes (as well as finished wine) has become commonplace in Cava production, but Xavi believes that the wine starts in the vineyard. He owns 7 hectares in Penedès and all of his production comes from his own vines. From the planting of the vineyard to disgorgement and the finished wine, Xavi is involved in all aspects of the grape’s journey to glass.

The decision for Xavi to leave the Cava DO and join Corpinnat in 2019 was an easy one. Frustrated with the status quo and the Cava DO’s inability to adapt beyond its cheap and low quality reputation, a number of wineries lobbied to become a high quality subdivision of the Cava DO. The Cava DO entertained the idea, but ultimately, the DO did not permit this, giving the seven wineries no other alternative but to leave the DO and form their own collective. Corpinnat (translating loosely to the “Heart of Penedés”) has several stringent rules that set it apart from the Cava DO.  First and foremost, organic certification is required for all vineyards and all grapes must be harvested by hand. Grapes must all be grown within the physical boundaries of the Corpinnat territory, an area encompassing 997 square kilometers in the heart of Penedès sparkling wine production. 18 months aging on the lees is the minimum (double the amount of cava’s 9 required months). 

Winemaker
Xavier Bernet

Grape / Blend
100% Xarel-lo

Origin
Catalunya, Spain

Tasting Notes
It is a sparkling wine with a creamy texture, with a fine and harmoniously integrated effervescence.

With fine, persistent bubbles and floral aromas.

94 Points - Ian Blackburn (AKA Teeth) 

Extraordinaire quality - fresh, alive and minimal intervention.

Nose - daft, fresh, complex. 

Mouth - good concentration, weight, intensity, and nuance.  

Overall - Exceptional quality, elevated and more complexity than generic cava.  Lovely mousse, persistance, texture, aromas of tree fruits (white peach, apple) and lees influence.  If it were cava you would say this is one of the best you have had... but its Corpinnat and that means better.

Product size: 750ml