Pale gold, adequate effervescence (“satèn” means less CO2 and less pressure in the bottle). Inviting nose with delicate notes of white peach, butter, fresh mushrooms and chalk. Bone dry, the soft acidity is well balanced in the ascending mid-palate leading to a finish of very good length. Ready to drink.
Estate-grown blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Chardonnay Musque, aged sur lie for 45 months and made in the traditional method. Elegant nose of lemon, brioche, green apple, limestone minerality and grapefruit. Fine and vigorous mousse on the palate, lovely texture and verve with a nutty, fresh profile of citrus, apple, biscuit and vibrant energy through the finish.
Mostly Chardonnay, with some oak-fermented Pinot Noir. Clear deep vermilion with lots of bubbles. Faint nose of orange and yeast. Slightly sweet, tastes of McIntosh apples sprinkled with a bit of sugar and a few drops of lemon juice. Drink now.
If you shun Cava for being too simple, too sweet or too forgettable, please seek out this iconic producer and this exceptional bottle (new to our market). This biodynamic, family grower/producer uses only estate fruit in this cuvée, from vineyards located in the calcareous soils of Alt Penedès’ Bitlles Valley Highlands. You get the soils at once, with the grip and freshness in this striking fizz. I love (geek) the transparency in labelling here: aged 70 months, disgorged on March 3, 2017, and hand-disgorged without freezing the neck and with no dosage. Pixelated mineral, lemon pith and dusty, sun-baked stone on the tight and nimble citrus-scented palate. Grounded with a firm gravitas, but lifted with an effortless stream of fresh acidity (12% alcohol). This is a wine of place and time — not something you can usually say about Cava. Plus, when was the last time you drank a Gran Reserva Cava? Si, never.
This demi-sec (mid sweet) Cava is a blend of 55% Macabeo, 40% Parellada and 5% Chardonnay from a small 20 hectare estate just outside Sant Sadurni d'Anoia. The highest point of the region, this is just off the Mediterranean Sea, with views of the Montserrat mountains to the north. This aged one year in the bottle, and carries 35 g/l RS through the brisk finish. Sweet pear, apple sauce fill the generously sweet form, with a red apple peel and pink grapefruit pithiness to counter. If you're looking for a sweet fizz to pair to angel food cake or pear clafouti, look no further. Well made for the style.
Pale yellow. Citrus, apple, a mineral scent and biscuit notes on the inviting nose. Sharp attack, lively acidity, fresh fruity taste with a tad of dosage for roundness. Drink now.