2018 Celler Credo Ratpenat BIO

2018 Celler Credo Ratpenat BIO is an expressive, organically crafted white wine from Penedès that beautifully bridges freshness, depth and a distinctive mineral edge. Named after the Catalan word for “bat,” it’s a wine with real personality and a strong ecological story in the glass. Think high-level white Rioja in style, but born from a tiny, singular vineyard in Catalonia. Its unique selling point lies in its origin: just 2 hectares of old, bush-trained Macabeo vines rooted in rare, glittering schist (phyllites) and quartz gravel – a soil combination almost unheard of in Penedès. Produced in minute quantities (only about 5,000 bottles), Ratpenat is both elegant and powerful, a terroir-driven wine that has earned 92 points from Robert Parker. The project was created in 2013 as a partnership between Celler Credo and the Granollers Natural Science Museum to highlight the crucial role of bats in a balanced ecosystem, tying the wine directly to local biodiversity and environmental stewardship.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Ratpenat BIO shows a luminous straw to light golden hue, hinting at both concentration and bottle development. It’s clean yet unfiltered in spirit, so a light natural haze or fine sediment may appear – a hallmark of its minimal-intervention approach. The nose is broad and layered, with aromas of toasted hazelnut, nougat and a touch of butter and toast from its time in oak, wrapped around a core of ripe citrus, stone fruit and subtle orchard notes. With air, more complexity emerges: a whisper of smoke, dried herbs and a saline, stony minerality that clearly reflects its schist- and quartz-based soils. On the palate, Ratpenat is powerful yet beautifully balanced by a vibrant, mouthwatering acidity. It is dry and incisive, showing good depth and structure, with flavors of lemon curd, baked apple, toasted nuts and a creamy, brioche-like undertone. The mineral backbone gives it real tension and length, leading to a persistent, savoury, slightly nutty finish. Stylistically, it recalls serious white Rioja: textured, gastronomic and built to evolve. Thanks to its concentration, structure and acidity, the 2018 vintage has very good aging potential. Expect it to drink beautifully now but gain even more complexity over the next 5–8 years from vintage, developing deeper honeyed, nutty and tertiary notes while retaining its mineral core.

Production
Ratpenat comes from a single, tiny vineyard in the northern part of Piera, in the Penedès region of Spain. Nestled in a small valley called La Riera Seca, this 2-hectare site is planted to 30-year-old, bush-trained Macabeo (Viura) vines. The soils here are exceptional: shining schist (phyllites) intertwined with quartz gravel, a rare combination in Penedès that imparts a marked, almost crystalline minerality to the wine. Celler Credo works in certified organic and deeply sustainable fashion, partnering with like-minded growers who share their respect for biodiversity and landscape. All grapes are harvested by hand to ensure that only the healthiest, perfectly ripe fruit is used. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts from the estate’s own vineyards, a key element in expressing true terroir. After fermentation, the wine spends about one month in oak barrels, adding subtle toast and texture, and then rests a further six months in tank, likely on the lees, to build depth and complexity. Minimal intervention is the rule: the wine is neither heavily filtered nor aggressively stabilized, so natural sediment may appear in the bottle, underlining its artisanal character.

Food & Serving
This is a serious, gastronomic white that shines at the table. Its combination of richness, acidity and minerality makes it a superb partner for roasted or grilled white fish, monkfish, or cod, especially with butter, nuts or a light cream sauce. It pairs beautifully with roast chicken, turkey, or pork loin, as well as dishes featuring mushrooms, root vegetables, or sautéed greens. Hard cheeses (such as Manchego or aged Comté), nutty alpine cheeses and rich seafood rice dishes or paella are also excellent matches. Serve Ratpenat at around 10–12°C (50–54°F) to balance freshness with aromatic expression. Given its structure and subtle reduction/minerality, it benefits from a brief decant: 20–30 minutes in a carafe or a few good swirls in a large white wine glass will help it open up and reveal its full, layered complexity.

Producer
Celler Credo is the still-wine project of the iconic Recaredo estate, one of Spain’s most respected producers and a benchmark name in long-aged, terroir-driven Cava from Penedès. While Recaredo built its reputation on traditional-method sparkling wines, Celler Credo focuses on organic, site-expressive still wines that highlight native varieties and distinctive vineyards. Deeply committed to sustainability and biodiversity, the estate works closely with top growers in Penedès who share a philosophy rooted in respect for identity, territory and landscape. The Ratpenat project, developed in partnership with the Granollers Natural Science Museum, underscores Celler Credo’s role as a pioneer in connecting fine wine with environmental awareness, particularly the protection of bats that naturally inhabit the surrounding cliffs and vineyards. With limited-production wines like Ratpenat earning high critical acclaim, including 92 points from Robert Parker, Celler Credo has established itself as a leading voice in the new wave of premium, terroir-driven white wines from Catalonia.

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