The 2007 Calcari (the name comes from the soil type in which the grapes are planted) is 100% Xarel-lo. It offers up a nose of mineral, green apple, and lemon-lime. Fruity, balanced, and refreshing on the palate, this tasty wine should drink well over the next 1-2 years. It, too, is a very good value. Pares Balta is one of a number of wineries in Penedes with serious aspirations. It produces a wide range of wines from Cava to Rose to stratospherically priced red wines. While Pares Balta appears to be a work in progress, it is clear that their intention is to produce world-class wines. While Pares Balta makes many different Cavas, the importer only brings in their two top-of-the-line sparkling wines. Several of Pares Balta’s red wines could not be recommended and the best of the rest possess a certain rusticity that belies their lofty price tags. Importer: Bryce McNamee, Boutique Wine Collection, Philadelphia, PA; www.boutiquewines.info