Embark on a journey through time with Alta Alella 1981 Ismael Manaut, a singular rancio wine from Pansa Blanca variety, crafted with passion and patience, that unveils a captivating story in every sip. This creation by Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets, from the 1981 vintage and meticulously aged, is a testament to the expertise and vinicultural legacy of Alta Alella.

Alta Alella 1981 Ismael Manaut’s history

Ismael Manaut (Martorelles, 1936-2017) was a prominent industrialist in Vallès Oriental, an important businessman in the DO Alella wine region and a man of great artistic interest and sensibility. Manaut was a crucial figure in the history of Alta Alella and Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets’ first steps as a winemaker.

In 1980, Manaut contacted Mr. Jaume Serra (home of great wine professionals such as the brothers Albert, Isidre and Carles Ferran; Quico Lluch; Imperial; etc.), to find an oenologist to start a project together with his friends Juan Peláez Fabra (Marquis of Alella) and Jaume Nadal (owner of Quatre Torres). Serra then recommended him to contact Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets, a promising young oenologist who was doing his military service at the time.

The businessman commissioned Josep Maria to create a new winery under the name Alta Alella SA, which eventually became his final graduation project. In 1981, the winery was built in Santa Maria de Martorelles and the first vintage of “Marqués de Alella 1981” was released, a wine made from 100% Pansa Blanca, which had such an outstanding success that Josep Peñín bought the entire production for his exclusive wine club, as well as the prestigious Harrods in London.

From that vintage, Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets kept some barrels to make a dry natural rancio wine, which over the years has been kept at Alta Alella SL. As a tribute and in gratitude to Manaut, it has been decided to make it into soleras, and now it is on sale to the public, in a limited edition (until now, it was only available for tasting internally at the winery).

Wine tasting notes

Sight – Intense golden colour.
Nose – Aromas of honey and spices, with hints of dried fruits and a background of toasted notes fromits long ageing.
Palate – Its great complexity is confirmed. Intense and dry with exceptional persistence. Long and concentrated.

The second day of Barcelona Wine Week hosted the exclusive tasting of “The Magnificent 7”, led by the journalist and sommelier Ramon Francàs. A unique tasting with 7 great sparkling wines with long ageing, including the Pujol-Busquets collectible cava Alta Alella 10 Gran Reserva.

Mireia Pujol-Busquets, owner of Alta Alella, joined Francàs and the 6 other cava producers to introduce Alta Alella 10, a sparkling wine “made with a ‘Gran vin’ philosophy and which shows the elegant passage of time”, she described.

After a short ageing, the Méthode Traditionelle Champenoise is applied with a minimum ageing period on lees of 10 years. This singular sparkling wine is the result of combining: Sauló soil from Can Genís Estate –a sandy granitic soil–, the exceptional and unique climate characteristics from Serra de Mar area, and many years of experience making high quality cavas.

From now on you can find on the market the vintage 2005 of the collectible cava Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+, selected bottles from the Alta Alella “Wine Library”.

-Vintage 2005- A severe drought during the vegetative period caused a reduction in the grape berry size, leading to lower yields and increased concentration. August rains together with an extraordinary grape health condition allowed optimal ripening, obtaining well-structured wines with a very good aromatic richness and high alcohol content.