A very informative event featuring many wineries from Spain’s Catalonia Region. This was really an eye opener on how good Cava can be when you get outside the mainstream, corporate stuff.
Canals & Munne
Winemaker: Oscar Canals. All three Cava’s were nice.
- N.V. Canals & Munné Cava Insuperable Brut Reserva – Spain, Cava
Wonderful offering with spice, dough, chalk, lemon and minerals. Very much terroir driven on this one. Nice stuff. (90 pts.) - N.V. Canals & Munné Cava Dionysus Brut Nature Reserva Agricultura Ecologica – Spain, Cava
Very nice and clean sparkler. Lemon, spice, floral, minerals and apple skin. Good acidity. (91 pts.) - N.V. Canals & Munné Cava Brut Reserva LOLA – Spain, Cava
Very nice overall with rose petals, raspberries, strawberries and dust. Not super concentrated but fun wine to try. (89 pts.)
Celler Pallarades
Another solid table with all wines showing well. Winemaker: Sergi Montala
- 2021 Celler Pallarades Tarragona l’espatllat – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona
Very nice value with floral, spice, shell and sour apple. Nice acidity and short to medium finish. Refreshing wine. (88 pts.) - 2021 Celler Pallarades Tarragona L’Onclu – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona
Very nice blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Tempranillo featuring red berries, spice, dust and earth. Stainless fermentation and very clean and enjoyable wine young. (90 pts.) - 2022 Celler Pallarades Tarragona L’Avi De La Pipa – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona
100% Macabeu. One of the best wines at this tasting. 6 months in oak barrel. Bright floral, mild oak, Carmel, spice and tropical fruits. Medium finish. (91 pts.)
Most Dore Cellers
Not as impressed with these 3. Winemaker: Gerardo Alcober
- 2021 Cellers Most Doré Cava Montesquius Anadas Brut – Spain, Cava
Pleasant enough with orange peel, lime lemon and straw. Short to medium finish. (88 pts.) - 2018 Cellers Most Doré Cava Gran Montesquius Brut Reserva – Spain, Cava
Nice overall with a taste of Brandy. Spices, flint and dust. Interesting would be an understatement. (88 pts.) - 2021 Most Dore Cava Robert J Mur Tradicion Brut Reserva – Spain, Cava
Solid overall with orange peel, lemon, spice and a touch of sweetness. (87 pts.)
Covides Vineyards Winery
These also did not show as well as others at the show.
- N.V. Covides Vineyards Wineries Cava Xenius Brut Selection – Spain, Cava
A very simple wine that lacks complexity. Apple, spice and some dust. Short finish. If anything refreshing. (84 pts.) - N.V. Covides Vineyards Wineries Cava Montse Rose – Spain, Cava
A bit sweet with orange peel, cherry, spices and some dust. Residual Sugar is 9g/Liter. (86 pts.) - 2017 Covides Vineyards Wineries Cava Duc de Foix Gran Reserva – Spain, Cava
Suggested retail at $50 is way to high for this wine in my opinion. Dust, slate, wood dust, spices and some fruit. Shorter finish than you would expect for the price point. (85 pts.)
Finca La Font de Jui
One of the better tables at the show. The Finca La Font de Jui Miratge 2019 was excellent. Winemaker: Josep Vila.
- 2019 Finca la Font de Jui Penedès Miratge Extra Brut – Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
Top quality and the price is suggested at $25 retail which makes this a steal. Lemon, chalk, spice, orange peel, raspberries and dough. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 50% each. Wonderful offering that would sell off the shelves. (92 pts.) - 2017 Finca la Font de Jui Penedès Mimas Extra Brut – Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
Very solid as well but not as good as the 19 Miratge from the same producer. 100% Chardonnay. Dust, baked apples, a touch of honey and spice. Medium finish. 4.7 g/liter in Residual Sugar. (90 pts.) - 2023 Adelit Vermentino Terra Alta – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
100% Vermentino. A good if not very good wine with floral, minerals, spice and very refreshing. Medium finish. (89 pts.)
LaFou Celler
Good overall but nothing amazing.
- 2023 Lafou Celler Garnatxa Blanca Terra Alta Els Amelers – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Floral, apricots, minerals and chalk. Nice overall wine but a bit pricy at $31 SRP. (87 pts.) - 2020 Lafou Celler Terra Alta El Sender – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Nice overall with coffee beans, earth, spice and red currants. Medium finish. (90 pts.) - 2022 Lafour Cellars Terra Alta Vins de Relat Massaluca – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Oak, vanilla, spice, burnt toast and floral notes. A bit heavy. (85 pts.)
Lagravera
Solid offerings. Winemaker: Pilar Salillas
- 2021 Lagravera Costers del Segre Laltre – Spain, Catalunya, Costers del Segre
67% Grenache, 15% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Monastrell, 3% Tempranillo & 3% Merlot. Wish this was better as it is an interesting blend. Sweet fruits featuring blackberries along with rose petals and violets. Might benefit from more aging but only $16 retail so overall good value. (88 pts.) - 2019 Lagravera Costers del Segre Ónra – Spain, Catalunya, Costers del Segre
Funk which I like along with clay, spice, pepper, rose petals, strawberries and a nice mineral streak on the finish. One of the better reds at this tasting. (90 pts.) - 2019 Lagravera Costers del Segre Ciclic – Spain, Catalunya, Costers del Segre
Not cheap at $50 retail. Stone, pepper, raspberries, blueberries and coffee beans. Medium plus finish. Needs some aging for sure. 90 to 92 points (90 pts.)
Mastinell
Wonderful offerings and all wins showed well. Top Table at this event. Winemaker: Maria Nieto
- 2016 Cava & Hotel Mastinell Cava Brut Real Gran Reserva – Spain, Cava
One of the best at the tasting with lemon, toast, grapefruit and pear. Clean finish and nice acidity. (91 pts.) - 2019 Cava & Hotel Mastinell Cava Capre Brut Nature Gran Reserva – Spain, Cava
Equal parts Xarello, Macabeau, Parellada & Chardonnay. 5 years of aging in the bottle. Lemon, chalk, lime, stone and nice acidity. Very solid offering. (90 pts.) - 2024 Cava & Hotel Mastinell Cava Blanca – Spain, Cava
New vintage and very nice. White flowers, honey, apricots and mild spice. Very nice acidity on this one and refreshing. Great value around $30 full retail. (91 pts.)
Vins Claramunt
Very nice wines and the white Grenache shinned. Winemaker: Artur Galcera Juila
- 2022 Vins Claramunt Terra Alta Claramunt Negre – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Nice wine overall with 100% Grenache. 6 months aged in American Oak Casks. Nice red currants, mild oak, strawberries and minerals. Medium plus finish. (89 pts.) - 2022 Vins Claramunt Terra Alta Blanc de Claramunt – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
100% Grenache Blanc. Very nice with minerals, floral, stone and apricots. I find White Grenache thrives in this climate in Terra Alta. (91 pts.) - 2018 Vins Claramunt Terra Alta Claramunt Reserva – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Solid 90 pointer with 85% Syrah and 15% Merlot. Oak, blueberries, dark chocolate and spices. Medium plus finish. (90 pts.)