About U Mes u Fan Tres
U Mes u Fan Tres (1+1=3) is a relatively young winery founded by two brothers-in-law, Josep Pinol, the winemaker, and Josep Anton Bonell, who heads up the production side. Located an hour from Barcelona, 1+1=3 is one of the few operations in the Cava producing Penedes region that makes wines solely from its own grapes. Twenty hectares of chalky limestone vineyards are planted to a ridiculous variety of Spanish and French grapes (with the differently exposed and aged vines of the same varieties being vinified separately): Xarel-lo (native to the Penedes area, used in Cava), Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnatxa (Catalan for Grenache), Carinena (Catalan for Carignan), Tempranillo, Parellada (another domestic grape used primarily in Cava), Macabeo (the third Cava blending grape), Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. The basic non-vintage Cava offers good flavor intensity and presence on the palate, but the vintage-dated Brut Nature is toastier, nuttier and fatter. Other bottlings include the Soliterra, a combination of Xarel-lo and Chenin, a Cabernet Sauvignon Rose made with Syrah and Cabernet grapes, and the Caliu, blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet.