wBlog: T3-b-M
Cava blind tasting was held by EVY on 26th of April 2016 at Matinkylä, Espoo
There were 11 different Cavas for blind tasting and one bonus which was sparking wine but not Cava. Event was kicked off by Kaj Rönnberg with small presentation about Penedes area where all Cavas come from. Topic went little bit sideways to the champagne. Kaj told interesting opinion heard from Essi Avellan (Master of Wine, specialized to champagne) that there are only two proper quality Cava producers and those are Gramona and Recaredo.
Information of Cava in Wikipedia
WineConnection recommends:
- Lindauer Cuvee Brut ( Alko 12,80€)
- Freixenet Gordon Rosado Brut (Alko 9,90€)
- Recaredo Relats Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2011 (Alkon tilausvalikoima 27,50€)
- Gramona Imperial Gran Reserva Brut 2010
- Freixenet Elyssia Gran Cuvee Brut (Alko 20€)
ALL WINES
Monistroll Cava, Winemakers Select 2011 (Alko 10€)
- Varieties: Chardonnay, Macabao, Xarel.lo, Parellada
- Nose: citric, brioche, petroleum
- Palate: dry, citric
- Length: medium
- Conclusions: Okay Cava with this price but there are many better ones.
Cordoniu Anna (Alko 11,70€)
- Varieties: Chardonnay, Macabao, Xarel.lo, Parellada
- Nose: cucumber, exotic fruits like banana, reminds me of old school banana soda.
- Palate: dry, exotic fruits follows from nose.
- Length: short
- Conclusions: quality meets value, fruitiness was impressive. Old school banana soda with bubbles and dry taste, cheers!
Cordoniu Seleccion Raventos (Alko 13€)
- Varieties: Chardonnay, Macabao, Xarel.lo, Parellada
- Nose: –
- Palate: dry, acidic, over ripe apple
- Length: short
- Conclusions: Nothing good comes to my mind on this wine
BONUS, Lindauer Cuvee Brut (Alko 12,80€)
- Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Nose: apple, brioche
- Palate: dry, acidic, apple
- Length: long
- Conclusions: big amount of Pinot Noir exposed this wine to be as a bonus wine. I thought this was a inexpensive champagne. This wine won the blind tasting (the votes were given before the revealing).
Freixenet Gordon Rosado Brut (Alko 9,90€)
- Varieties: Garnacha, Trepat
- Nose: Raspberry, currant-like
- Palate: dry, raspberry, cranberry, cherry
- Length: –
- Conclusions: This wine left a good feeling, good value wine
Mistinguett Rose Vintage Edition 2014 (Alko 10€)
- Varieties: Trepat 100%
- Nose: peach, strawberry, petroleum
- Palate: dry, neutral
- Length: very short
- Conclusions: nothing positive to say, faults of wine can be observed.
Recaredo Relats Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2011 (Alko order selection 27,50€)
- Varieties: 55% Xarel.lo, 30% Macabao, 15% Chardonnay
- Nose: medicine like
- Palate: no added sugar, crispy, mineral
- Length: medium – long
- Conclusions: good balanced Cava from high quality producer. This was my personal favorite. Expensive.
91 pts, Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker´s Wine Advocate
Gramona Imperial Gran Reserva Brut 2010
- Varieties: Xarel.lo, Macabao, Chardonnay
- Nose: Exotic including banana, toast
- Palate: brut, toasted, hints of vanilla.
- Length: medium
- Conclusions: Excellent quality Cava with good balance. Unfortunately can not find from Finland at the moment.
89 pts, Neal Martin, Robert Parker´s Wine Advocate
Freixenet Elyssia Gran Cuvee Brut (Alko 20€)
- Varieties: Pinot Noir, Macabao, Chardonnay, Parellada
- Nose: citric
- Palate: dry, elegant, citric
- Length: medium
- Conclusions: Very champagne-like, maybe because of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Quality meets value.
Castelblanc Cava Seco (Alko 10€)
- Varieties: Xarel.lo, Macabao, Parellada
- Nose: Sweet fruits
- Palate: medium dry (20g/l residual sugar), whitecurrant
- Length: –
- Conclusions: Nothing positive to say.
Freixenet Cava Carta Nevada Semi-seco (Alko 9,30€)
- Varieties: Xarel.lo, Macabao, Parellada
- Nose: –
- Palate: medium sweet (35g/l residual sugar), sugar rhubarb
- Length: –
- Conclusions: Nothing positive to say.
Codorniu Ecologica Semi-seco (Alko 10€)
- Varieties: Xarel.lo, Macabao, Parellada
- Nose: –
- Palate: medium sweet (35g/l residual sugar), honeymelon.
- Length: –
- Conclusions: Nothing positive to say.
-Markus Laukkanen, WineConnection Finland