I've been trying to remember when I first met Laureano Serres..... 
.....Certainly before I took that scuzzy, blurred photo this winter at La Remise. Was it a Dive? Perhaps. We've emailed, met, tasted. I liked. But it was this winter when I really noticed his wines, his white wines in particular. They provoked double take. Personality? Sure. But then, Laureano is a bit of a mad genius man. Vision. Talent.
At that crazy tasting, because it is always tasting, I reacquainted myself with his macabeao, the '08 Abeurador (licorice!, with two days of skin contact) the 09 is earthier, with a little radish and melon. Needed some time to settle. I said to him, I'll visit. Laureano is pure. A New Yorker would have thought. Sure, she's coming. Right. It was no surprise to him when I wrote to ask if he could see me in June. He just assumed I was going to keep my word. He and JPJP a short pow wow, Benoit at Anima del Vi jumped on board. After some arm twisting, my publisher in Spain agreed to get my book ready for the evening. (pictures courtesy of Observatorio de Vino) 
And that's Benoit, 
His his shop might be the only store in Spain you can find people on the natural wine route. It was a fantastic time. Benoit blind tasted me on the three cuvees of Marcel Lapierre. Pretty fun stuff. Laureano, is the founder of vinosnaturales. I urge you to take a look at that link to see how seriously they take their charter. He convinced the crew from all over Spain to show up, and I'm still overwhelmed and I can't thank them enough.There they were, the whole Spanish hard core unSO2 group. So many thanks to Laureano and Benoit for an energetic and fairy tale evening. Many thanks to all. ++ (Back to the matter at hand--going to visit Laureano) Post blissful day at Jordi's, we headed out to Terra Alta (1.5 hours from Barcelona) where L lives and tends to family and vines. We were late. We were shameful about the late hour. But arriving after the heat of the day, happy to be there, venus was rising. What could be bad? Laureano's wines say, screw you if you don't like them. Someone else will. I like that. In writing we call that voice. (Part two coming up)
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