Profile of Albet I Noya
Passionate, driven, and dangerously talented, Josep Albet I Noya is a fitting poster-child for the dramatic quality improvements that have been achieved across the Penedès wine region in recent times. A stone’s throw away from Barcelona, the home of Cava, is increasingly being recognized as a center of exceptional red and white wines, thanks largely to families’ dynamism and energy like Albet I Noya.
The Albet family has been involved in wine for over a century when Josep’s ancestor Joan purchased the Can Vendrell estate in 1903. Sensing the inherent potential of the surrounding terroir for premium wine production, Joan Albet replanted the estate’s vineyards that had been devastated by the onslaught of phylloxera in the 19th century. He subsequently completed construction of the estate’s first winery in 1925, which remains in operation today.
Since then, each successive generation of the Albet I Noya family has managed the property, today under the careful stewardship of brothers Josep and Antoni Albet y Noya. Their greatest contribution has undoubtedly been the conversion to organic grape growing, a process that started in the 1970s when a Danish customer requested a batch of organic wine – hitherto unheard of in Penedès. Yet undaunted by the wider community’s skepticism, Josep became the first Spanish producer to commit to organic viticulture (certified in 1995) and now leads the vanguard for organic winemaking across Spain.
Today, the Albet I Noya family continues to demonstrate the massive potential for making fine wine in Penedès. For while the region tends to exist under the shadow of the more famous Rioja wine region, a visit to the Can Vendrell estate demonstrates how much more recognition is due in this corner of Spain. Particularly when tasting the exceptional Reserva Marti, a wine of formidable extract with its dark, spicy berry fruit. Or St Emilion on steroids, in other words.
Wines produced
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Reserva Marti
A varying blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. After fermentation in stainless steel vats the wine is aged for 2 years in new French oak and 3 further years in bottle. Only organic grapes are used.
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Elblanc XXV
A varying blend of Viognier, Vidal and Marina Rion. After fermentation in stainless steel vats a percentage of the wine is aged in French oak, the remaining percentage is aged on its lees in stainless steel tanks. Only organic grapes are used.
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La Milana
A varying blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Caladoc. After fermentation in stainless steel vats the wine is aged for 13 months in new French oak. Only organic grapes are used.
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Belat
100% Belat. After fermentation in stainless steel vats the wine is aged for 12 months in 500L French oak. Only organic grapes are used.
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Dolc Adria
A varying blend of Syrah and Merlot. A fortified wine style that is aged in French and American oak for 2 years. Only organic grapes are used.
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Collecio Syrah
100% Syrah. After fermentation in stainless steel vats the wine is aged for 14 months in a mixture of French and American oak. Only organic grapes are used.
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Collecio Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay. The wine is fermented in oak and then aged for 8 months in French barriques, with regular battonage (lees stirring). Only organic grapes are used.
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Lignum Negre
A varying blend of Syrah, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. After fermentation in stainless steel vats the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak and a further 4 months in bottle. Only organic grapes are used.
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Lignum Blanc
A varying blend of Chardonnay, Xarel-lo and Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are fermented in a mixture of oak and stainless steel. The Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels for 2 months. Only organic grapes are used.
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3 Macabeus
100% Macabeo. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and bottled without oak influence. Only organic grapes are used.
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Brut 21
57% Chardonnay, 43% Parellada. After the initial fermentation, the wine is then subject to a secondary fermentation in bottle. Aged for 15 months on its lees before disgorgement.
Winery details
Lugar Can Vendrell, s/n,
08739 Sant Pau d'Ordal, Subirats, Barcelona
Spain
Tel +(34) 938 994 812
Fax +(34) 938 994 930
- Appellation
- DO Penedes
- Founded
- 1925
- Area under vine
- 85 Hectares
- Age of vines
- 30 years+ Low yields
- Oak barrel origin
- French
- Winemaker
- Josep Albet I Noya
- Owner
- Albet I Noya family
- Production
- 1.200.000 bottles per annum, depending on the vintage
- Grape varietals
- Tempranillo, Garnacha, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Moscatell, Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling
