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Wine: Reviews, Thoughts & Culture

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Cava

Vallformosa Cavas - Classic Brut (NV) / Origen Brut Rosado

_Rose_Bottle_2What comes to mind when I mention Spain; Rioja perhaps? And when I bring up Sparkling Wine, Champagne or Prosecco? There’s a lot more to Spain than Rioja and much more in the category of Sparking Wine. Most every wine growing country has a Sparkling Wine tradition of some kind. Spain has an excellent one with a long history making Cava. I recently tasted the wines of Vallformosa at Corkbuzz Wine Studio in Manhattan. Corkbuzz is a terrific place to attend a wine event. The space is welcoming, the servers super helpful and the food absolutely delicious. We went through 4 courses of small bites paired with Different Cava’s and was a place I plan to return to so I can taste more of their food and dive into their excellent wine list. Vallformosa is currently in it’s 5th generation making Cava. We tasted through a number of their current releases, here’s a look at the two that stood out the most for me.

The Vallformosa Classic Brut (NV) was produced from fruit sourced in the Cava D.O. of Penedes Spain. This offering blends together Xarel-lo (40%), Macabeo (30%), and Parallada (30%). Primary fermentation took place in stainless steel followed by secondary fermentation in bottle using the traditional method. Aging took place over a year. 12,000 cases of this Cava were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $16.99. Apple and toasted almond aromas are apparent on the nose of this Cava. The palate shows off continued orchard fruit in the form of green apple, wisps of lemon zest and sufficient acidity to think keeps a little zippy. The fruit flavors are joined by a gentle kiss of crème fraiche on the finish which has good length. This is a refreshing wine that is delicious on its own and with food. It’s a Classic Brut in style and also a classic example of Cava.

The Vallformosa Origen Brut Rosado was produced from fruit sourced in the Cava D.O. of Penedes Spain. This selection is a blend of Garnacha (90%) and Monastrell. Primary fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel; Secondary fermentation followed in bottle using the traditional method. Aging took place over 12 months. 150,000 6 bottle cases were produced and this wine has a suggested retail price of $19.99. Bright berry aromas leap from the nose of this Rosado. The palate is intense and fruity with depth and layers to spare. Cherry, raspberry and subtle bits of strawberry are all present. These flavors all carry through the persistent finish, along with a nice dollop of creaminess and pepper spice. This Cava paired well with the array of different foods that Corkbuzz Wine Studio had laid in front of us, but it was particularly inspired alongside pork belly.

If you find yourself in Manhattan, Corkbuzz Wine Studio is a spot you’ll want to check out, they offer a lot and they do it quite well. They’re a wine bar, but really so much more than that title implies. When you’re looking for Sparkling Wine to pair with your meal or celebrate an occasion the Cava’s from Vallformosa are ones you should consider. They’re well priced and offer excellent value for the quality they offer. The wines above each pair well with food, but the Rosado in particular is a stunning match with a truly wide array of flavors and textures. It would be an excellent choice to serve at Thanksgiving as it would undoubtedly marry well with the myriad of flavors found on that Holiday’s typically diverse table.

Segura Viudas - Reserva Heredad Cava

Most great wine producing countries have their own Sparkling Wine traditions. Spain is no exception and they give us Cava. Segura Viudas sits on close to 450 acres in the Penedès region. The Cava tradition there dates back many years and there is high regard for the sparkling wines from Penedès. Today I’ll look at one of the many that Segura Viudas produces. The Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad was produced using fruit sourced at the winery estate in the Alt Penedès region of Spain. This offering is a blend of Macabeo (67%) and Parellada (33%). This wine spends up to four years aging on yeast. It has a suggested retail price of $25 for a standard 750 ml bottle and $40 for a 1.5 L Magnum.

A welcoming mélange of fruit aromas leads the fresh nose of this Cava. Honeydew Melon and green apple lead the charge, supported by a hint of white pepper spice. Grapefruit, lemon zest, and tart apple are all in abundance through the medium bodied palate. Ginger, brioche and a touch of yeast all emerge on the finish which has good length. This Cava is crisp, refreshing and nicely dry.

This Cava represents a very good value at $25. Over the years I’ve found that there’s something about large format bottles that excites a party or gathering. That makes the Magnum for $40 an even more outstanding value, and thus a perfect choice to mark a festive occasion this holiday season. The hand blown bottle with a pewter crest add to the elegance that’s contained inside. This wine is well worth checking out.