Despite having jumped a few vintages, we're still on the 2012 Xarello Pairal, which feels more advanced, and especially riper next to the cooler 2013s I tasted with it. It's sourced from a sloped vineyard planted in 1949 called El Cirerer and produced following an old tradition, fermenting and aging it in chestnut barrels with indigenous yeasts. There is certain rusticity here, call it character if you like, and in this Mediterranean vintage it shows lots of dry herbs, fennel and aniseed aromas. The palate feels polished and reveals moderate acidity. It was bottled in March 2013 after some four months in barrel. I almost always wish they'd release this wine a little earlier, and 'm already looking forward to the 2013. 4,393 bottles produced.