88 Points
 

A nice golden color with greenish reflections. The bouquet is exuberant—just bursting with aromas of honeysuckle and fresh crushed grapes. Flavors of ripe apple and lemon on the palate; the wine is both vivacious and rich, a testament to the perfect balance between acidity and extract.
-Kim Clougherty

Type of wine: White Wine
Alcohol: 12%
Grape: Muscat, Chardonnay and Xarel-lo
D.O.C.: Penedès
Winery: Loxarel

Additional Information

The Loxarel estate is located in the Penedès region of Catalunya near Barcelona. Since 1994, Loxarel has been managed by Josep Mitjans, widely recognized as one of Spain’s most innovative winemakers.  Josep is the fourth generation of the Mitjans Family to carry on the winemaking tradition at Masia Can Mayol.  

 
Loxarel’s winery seen in the distance through the vineyards.

Loxarel has just under 200 acres of vineyards.  The climate in the Penedès is mild with intense sunshine, moderate rainfall and gentle winds. The Pyrenées protect the region from cold northern winds while the warm Mediterranean to the south tempers the climate.

The soil is fertile and primarily composed of a mixture of clay, limestone and granite. Vineyards usually thrive without having to struggle too much on the hillsides and valleys of the Penedès. However, the region has been suffering from a drought so severe that the city of Barcelona has had to import water from Tarragona and Marseille! The drought has impacted the wine industry as well, reducing yields up to 20%.

Cora is made from an innovative blend of traditional and new grapes. After harvest, the grapes are macerated on their skins for 6 – 12 hours to help extract even more flavor and aromas from the grapes and add body to the wine. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 16ºC.