BIUTIFUL CAVA IS A BEAUTIFUL VALUE August 2021
NV Biutiful, Cava, Brut Nature (RT91) This is a delicious, round and ready Cava, crafted from 80%, 55-year-old Macabeo vines and 20%, 20-year-old Chardonnay vines that has been aged using traditional methode for a minimum of 15 months, and up to 20+ months, on the lees, prior to disgorging. There is no dosage is this Cava, hence it’s bone-dry palate texture, which I find comes off quite attractively. The pale straw hue leads to a bouquet of crisp Forelle pears, Topaz apples, chalk, seashell, and hints of brioche. Soft, round, and laden with ripe fruit, this is a stunning value in Cava. Drink now
GRAMONA – CRAFTING WORLD CLASS CAVA July 2021
2007 Gramona, Cava Gran Reserva, Brut Nature, lll Lustros (RT93) Bought a six pack years ago and this was the last bottle. It has transformed from a zippy, edgy Gran Reserva to a soft, supple wine with a deeply golden hue. It wafts up minerally, chalky laden notes of super ripe golden apples, toasted almonds, brioche, and hints of yeasty goodness. Amazing what mid-term cellaring has done to transform this into a soft, gentle giant. Time has been its friend. Drinking wonderfully forward and round and soft, as reminiscent of aged vintage champagne without being just it. Simply beautiful now, drink over the coming few years. Drink now-2024
TOTUS TUUS CAVA RESERVA June 2021
NV Totus Tuus, Cava Brut Reserva (RT91) Crafted using the “Método Tradicional” by blending Chardonnay, Xarello, Macabeo, Parellada and a dollop of Pinot Noir. It is aged in bottle, on lees, for 20 months, which vastly exceeds DO Cava minimum of 9 months. The result is a soft, supple, and round Cava that delivers sumptuous notes of citrus, ripe golden apple and yellow stone fruits with a pinch of terroir driven minerality. This is all about delicious, ripe fruit, mouthwatering acidity and is utterly yummy! Ready to drink now, it over-delivers a satisfying sip that will bring a fine smile to your face. Drink now
CAVA WITH DINNER September 2019
A recent tasting of world class Cava, this appellation is on fire! Champagne pay attention!
2016 Raventós, Cava, Raventós i Blanc, de Nit (RT 94) Raventós is a 100% biodynamic estate that produces stunning quality wines of enormous varietal expression. This ancient estate dating back to 1497 is comprised of 90 hectares of vineyards. De Nit is their rose sparkler that shows incredible finesse and precision, with a sublime mouth texture as it offers up delicate notes of strawberry, raspberry and white flowers. A punctuation mark of minerality makes it very alluring. The mouthfeel is beautifully balanced with impressive fruit and acidity that keep you coming back for another sip. This is a fabulous expression of Cava and is very well priced in the market and is a must-try for the sparkling aficionado! Drink now – 2029+
2007 Gramona, Cava Gran Reserva, Brut Nature, Ill Lustros (RT 93) Blended from 65% Xarello & 35% Macabeu, Gramona is an established house specializing in long aged Cava. Here the grapes are both organic and biodynamic grown, and the quality of fruit is superb. Lustros is aged for more than 70 months on lees. Despite its aging, it maintains a crisp, fresh style showing notes of lemon, apple and alpine herbs with a hint of nuttiness showing through. With time in the glass the aging reveals hints of brioche. Light on its feet and revealing a lovely, long finish, this is a drop-dead beautiful wine. Drink now – 2030+
2012 Recaredo, Cava, Brut Nature Gran Reserva, Terrers (RT 92) Crafted from 58% Xarello, 32% Macebeu & 10% Monastrell, this beautiful expression of organic and biodynamically produced Cava is aged under cork closure and is disgorged by hand using no freezing method. It reveals lovely terroir and elegance with crisp and fresh notes of bright hints of lemon zest, wet limestone, chamomile and hibiscus. The palate reveals a weightlessness that balances the fruit and acidity is a tactful way. Classic, premier quality Cava, drink now – 2026+
DINNER WITH JOE September 2019
2005 Recareda, Cava, Brut Nature, Reserva de Recareda (RT 95) From the oldest Xarello and Macebeu vines at this fabulous estate – 65-70 years of age – comes this flagship wine. Aged for 10 years on lees under cork closure and hand disgorged with no freezing used. 100% organiz and biodynamic. It shows magnificent, ethereal notes of green apple, crisp pear, a hint of quince and a smattering of minerality that serves as a punctuation mark! With time in the glass notes of yeast and nuttiness emerge. The depth of fruit on the palate is something to behold – beautiful and breathtaking with superb balance and a long finish. Simply stunning, this is a benchmark Cava! Drink now – 2035+