Muchada Leclapart Univers 2022

Muchada-Léclapart Univers 2022 is your gateway into the singular world of coastal Andalusian Palomino – a dry white that is fresh, saline and beautifully understated. Sourced from a single, carefully chosen parcel in the lower part of the esteemed La Platera vineyard, it showcases the grape in its purest, unfortified form. Fermentation in old Champenoise steel tanks preserves the wine’s crystalline precision, highlighting the tension between ripe fruit, chalky minerality and Atlantic freshness.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Univers 2022 is pale straw with silvery highlights, hinting at its youthful energy and maritime influence. The nose is immediately lifted and precise: sea breeze, crushed chalk and wet stone mingle with subtle notes of citrus peel, green apple and a faint suggestion of struck flint and powdered stone. Those fine hydrocarbon and chalk-dust nuances are a direct expression of its top-class albariza origins. On the palate, the wine is bone-dry, sleek and linear, with a pronounced saline edge that feels almost mouthwatering. Delicate citrus and orchard fruit are wrapped in a fine-boned structure, carried by vibrant acidity and a chalky texture that lingers on the finish. Univers is intended to be enjoyed in its youth for its tension and purity, but over the next 3–5 years it should gain more complexity and depth, with the mineral and subtle hydrocarbon notes becoming more pronounced.

Production
Univers 2022 comes from the lower section of La Platera, one of Muchada-Léclapart’s finest vineyards in coastal Andalusia, rooted in classic albariza – bright white clay-limestone soils – with veins of darker "lustrillos". This terroir, famed for its ability to retain moisture and transmit a piercing minerality, delivers naturally low yields and concentrated fruit. The Palomino (Listán Blanc) grapes are carefully hand-harvested at optimal ripeness to ensure both freshness and flavor intensity. In the cellar, the must is fermented in old Champenoise tanks made of solid steel, vessels that contribute no overt flavor but preserve the wine’s purity and saline character. Gentle, minimalist winemaking lets the site speak clearly, emphasizing the clean, savory, chalk-driven profile that defines Univers.

Food & Serving
This finely etched, salty Andalusian white is a natural partner for seafood: think fresh oysters, razor clams, ceviche, grilled sardines or simply prepared white fish with olive oil and lemon. It also works beautifully with salted almonds, Manchego, Iberian ham and simple vegetable dishes such as grilled asparagus or artichokes. Serve well-chilled at around 9–11°C (48–52°F) to accentuate its precision and minerality. A brief 15–20 minutes in a carafe can help the aromatics open up, but prolonged decanting is not necessary – its charm lies in its delicacy and tension.

Producer
Muchada-Léclapart is a small, visionary project in Andalusia that has quickly become a reference for artisanal, terroir-driven Palomino. Founded as a collaboration between local grower Alejandro Muchada and Champagne grower-producer David Léclapart, the estate applies a Champagne-like meticulousness and biodynamic sensitivity to the historic albariza vineyards of the region. Working exclusively with premium coastal parcels and focusing on unfortified whites, they have helped redefine what Palomino can express outside the traditional sherry framework. Their wines are celebrated for purity, precision and a powerful sense of place, making Muchada-Léclapart one of the most exciting names in the new Andalusian wine scene.