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  • Two dozen sparkling wines to enjoy this Christmas
  • Two dozen sparkling wines to enjoy this Christmas
  • Two dozen sparkling wines to enjoy this Christmas
  • Two dozen sparkling wines to enjoy this Christmas
  • Two dozen sparkling wines to enjoy this Christmas
1.Cava de Paraje Calificado. 2. Corpinnat. 3. Clàssic Penedès. 4. Mas del Serral. 5. Vardon Kennett. Photo credits: Amaya Cervera.

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Two dozen sparkling wines to enjoy this Christmas

Amaya Cervera | December 21st, 2021

Had we written this article ten years ago, only the word "cava" would have featured. Back then it was already apparent that disagreements in Catalonia's sparkling industry would be on the rise but not even the most pessimistic would have foreseen the fragmentation that followed and which eventually led to the creation of Clàssic Penedès, Corpinnat and, to a lesser extent, to stand-alone producers like Raventós i Blanc, Torres, Clos Lentiscus or Can Ràfols dels Caus.

Despite all the turmoil after the various break-ups from DO Cava, there has been a sort of effervescent catharsis. Quality-oriented players in all groups have upgraded their standards and championed extended ageing wines and organic growing. Thus, the real gap right now stands between producers committed to quality, sustainability, and landscape protection and those who comply with the minimum requirements and foster a low pricing policy in wines whose production method -a second fermentation in bottle- involves significant additional costs.

We have selected traditional method sparkling wines produced in Catalonia, mainly Penedès, where bubbly is largely produced, but in 2022 we plan to explore the latest trends elsewhere in Spain. If you want to delve into the complex issues that led to the creation of new designations beyond Cava, you may read the articles published on SWL which are detailed below.

Whilst we tasted Clàssic Penedès and Corpinnat on a trip to the area this summer, our tasting notes on Cava come from a recent press meal in Madrid with wines from the six cellars producing the top single-vineyard category of Cava de Paraje Calificado (CPC) and in the course of which DO Cava president Xavier Pagès revealed that four new wines could join the category throughout 2022.

Despite the absence of scores, we have given all the wines listed below 90 or more points. Organic growing is mandatory in Corpinnat and Clàssic Penedès and will be so for Cava de Guardia Superior in 2025, so almost all the wines listed come from organic vineyards or vineyards in the process of being fully certified. 

CAVA

Wines are listed by price in ascending order. The acronym CPC (Cava de Paraje Calificado) appears before the name of each site. Despite having tasted just six cavas, one for each of the producers making CPC wines, the diversity of styles was striking. Distance from the sea (Costers del Segre has distinctive continental climate), soils (limestone in Penedès, granite in Alella), grape varieties, ageing times, the use of oak and dosage explain the differences. 

Vins El Cep Claror CPC Can Prats 2014 Brut Nature. Vins El Cep was founded by four families of winegrowers with adjoining properties in Espiells (Sant Sadurní d'Anoia). One of them is certified as a biodynamic producer; the rest are organic. The cellar is in the process of becoming an "integral producer", a new category in DO Cava for those who vinify 100% of their wines. Claror is made from the oldest vines (around 70 years old) on a site whose run-off water flows into the Can Prats stream. The blend remains faithful to Cava's three traditional grape varieties with Xarel.lo providing the structure. Floral and bakery notes, with hints of aniseed aromas. A very familiar cava style.
Grape varieties: 43% Xarel.lo, 33% Macabeo, 24% Parellada 
Ageing: 60 months minimum
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Disgorgement: February 2021(not on the label but written on the little brochure hanging from the bottle neck) 
Retail price in Spain: €49 

Pere Ventura Gran Vintage CPC Can Bas 2015 Brut. The Can Bas estate (Subirats, Barcelona) is owned by Pere Ventura since 2011. In it, prehistoric remains, a site from the Iberian period and a Roman villa have been discovered. In addition, there is evidence that wine was made there since the 15th century. The CPC Can Bas comes from five old vine plots: two Xarel.lo and three Macabeo planted on soils rich in carbonates. With its unmistakable diamond-shaped bottle, likely to elicit some mixed reactions, this is the brand's third vintage (we loved the first 2012 release) and the second under the CPC category. Although sold as Brut, the sugar content is under 5g/l. Outstanding combination of citrus and toasted notes, evolving into nutty aromas. Only 2,529 bottles were produced.
Grape varieties: 50% Macabeo, 50% Xarel.lo 
Ageing: 42 months minimum
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Disgorgement: June 2021
Retail price in Spain: €58 

CPC Can Sala 2009 Brut Nature, Vins Familia Ferrer. When Henkell purchased Freixenet, this cava, sourced from vines grown on the Ferrer family property in Mediona (Alt Penedès), passed onto a separate company under the control of the Ferrer family. Despite having Parellada as its key ingredient (at least 50%), Can Sala Brut Nature manages to withstand 10 years’ ageing before its release. It proves the way this lighter, subtler grape variety can thrive when grown on its natural habitat in one of the most elevated and coldest areas in Penedès. The nose is rich, complex, still beautifully scented (dried flowers), with plenty of toasted notes and hints of white chocolate. Subtle palate with a very long finish.
Grape varieties:  50% Parellada, 50% Xarel.lo 
Ageing: 144 months minimum
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Disgorgement: November 2021
Retail price in Spain: €70 

Alta Alella Mirgin Opus CPC Vallcirera 2017 Brut Nature Mágnum. The landscape behind this cava is particularly interesting: an amphitheatre-shaped property overlooking the Mediterranean in the village of Alella, a few kilometres north of Barcelona, with distinctive granitic soils. The Vallcirera vineyard, located in the lower part of the estate, provides excellent acidity and is ideally suited for extended ageing sparkling wines. Mirgin Opus blends 60% barrel-fermented Chardonnay (a variety that performs particularly well on the estate) with 40% Pansa Blanca, the local name for Xarel.lo. The wine has a citrus, sharp profile, with spicy notes, good weight on the palate, well-integrated bubbles and fine bitter nuances on the finish. The 1.5 litre bottle adds extra tension and freshness. A good choice for the Christmas celebrations. When it comes to sparkling wines, magnum bottles do not only taste fresher; they also provide a "wow" effect.
Grape varieties:  60% Chardonnay, 40% Xarel.lo 
Ageing: 36 months minimum
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Disgorgement: November 2021
Retail price in Spain: €73.50 (€32 the 75 cl. bottle)

Juvé y Camps CPC La Capella 2010 Brut. Together with La Siberia Pinot Noir rosé, La Capella sits at the top of Juvé & Camps range in terms of quality and price. It comes from the oldest Xarel.lo plot in their Espiells estate with distinctive shallow soils, as the limestone rock lies 60-70 cm deep. I was lucky to taste two bottles of this cava over the last month. The first one at a restaurant (I assume it had an earlier disgorgement date given its honeyed tones and excellent evolution); the second, at the meal hosted by the DO Cava, where it felt more restrained, yet with the unmistakable character of an extended aged sparkling wine. Complex nose (praline, petrol aromas) and sapid palate with remarkable length. Having the disgorgement date on the label would be very welcome. 

The leading producer of Cava Gran Reserva, Juvé & Camps recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with the launch of three limited edition vintages of its iconic Reserva de la Familia, a prelude to further releases of late disgorgement wines. Joan Juvé, who was present at the lunch, announced that the company is working to meet the requirements for the "integral producer" seal.
Grape varieties: 100% Xarel.lo
Ageing: 108 months
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €85
 

Codorníu CPC La Pleta 2011 Brut. Codorníu makes three CPCs: a Xarel.lo from Penedès (Valls d'Anoia-Foix according to DO Cava's new zone classification), a Pinot Noir from Conca de Barberà (Serra de Prades) and this Chardonnay from Costers del Segre (Pla de Ponent) with grapes sourced from a seven-hectare plot grown on loam-clay soils at the Raimat estate. There are only 325 bottles of this vintage, even if the vineyard covers seven hectares -a part of it is also destined to Ars Collecta 459, Codorniu's top sparkling which blends its three CPCs. With a higher amount of residual sugar (about 8g/l), and very good acidity, it was particularly savoury and juicy on the finish in contrast with the dry style of the other cavas. Similarly, an earlier disgorgement translated into a beautifully rich, mature style. Certainly, it was the right moment to taste it.
Grape varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 90 months
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Disgorgement: April 2019 
Retail price in Spain: €90 

CORPINNAT

The average quality of the sparkling wines under Corpinnat is really high, as expected by the background of its members and the strict regulations established by the association. This is a small group of just 11 producers, one still pending to release its first wines (we provide a preview below). We have reviewed one wine per winery, all of which have been listed in ascending price order.

Huguet de Can Feixes Brut Nature 2013. One of the best values among Catalan sparkling wines. It is also made as a Brut (the same wine with the same seven years of ageing) but the Brut Nature has better definition and length. Can Feixes is a beautiful property on the foothills of the Prelitoral Mountains in Alt Penedès, its vineyards surrounded by forests. This is the perfect place to grow Parellada, the dominant grape variety in the blend. The nose displays fine herbs aromas with wild forest in the background. This is an elegant, well-defined sparkling wine with vibrant acidity and nicely integrated bubbles. A truly smart buy. 
Grape varieties:  60% Parellada,25% Macabeo, 15% Pinot Noir. 
Ageing: minimum 84 months
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Disgorgement: March 2021
Retail price in Spain: 
13.50 

Josep Coca 2014 Brut Coca, Sabaté y Coca (Castellroig). Another producer worth knowing and visiting in Penedès, particularly if Marcel Sabaté is your guide. He knows every little detail about the small museum housed in the winery and about each of the vineyards in the 70 different plots they grow in the Bitlles valley -18 different types of soils have been identified and each plot is fermented separately since 1995. This sparkling wine is a tribute to Marcel’s grandfather, who planted Sabaté y Coca’s oldest vines. Subtle and creamy, with aniseed notes, fine texture, and good length. The whole range of their generously priced sparkling wines is worth a try.
Grape varieties: Xarel.lo and Macabeo 
Ageing: minimum 65 months
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Disgorgement: 15 February 2021
Retail price in Spain: €19.50 

Memòria de Descregut 2015 Brut Nature, Can Descregut. Despite being one of the least well-known members of Corpinnat, Can Descregut epitomizes the small growers of Penedès who produce wines from their own vines planted around the masía, Catalonia’s traditional farmhouse. Grapes for Memòria are sourced from 40+-year-old vines planted in two vineyards in La Pineda. The yeasts autolysis results in creamy, pastry aromas over an aniseed background. A textbook Mediterranean sparkling wine with lively acidity, toasted notes and some bitterness on the finish. 
Grape varieties: 65% Xarel.lo, 35% Macabeo 
Ageing: 60+ months
Disgorgement: June 2021
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €19.50 

Indomable 2013 Brut Nature, Mas CandíMas Candí knows a thing or two about bubbles. The producer behind two of our favourite Spanish pét-nats (Tinc Set and Roig Boig) is also capable of exploring new ways when it comes to the traditional method. Indomable blends equal parts of white (Xarel.lo) and red (Sumoll) grapes which are directly pressed, just like it’s standard in Champagne. This limited cuvée (barely 2,000 bottles are produced) combines the freshness the 2013 vintage with rich, creamy nuances. Sumoll, a relatively new grape in sparkling wines, sets the style and the character of the wine as it develops. A food-friendly choice that will appeal to adventurous wine lovers. 
Grape varieties: 50% Xarel.lo, 50% Sumoll
Ageing: minimum 60 months 
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €19.50

Leopardi 2014 Brut Nature, Llopart. Owned by a family with deep roots in Penedès (26 generations of winegrowers since 1385), Llopart is located in a cold area on the western end of the Ordal mountains. The jewel in the crown is Les Flandes, a site surrounded by forests where their oldest vineyards are found. Although I am particularly fond of Original (the wine with the highest amount of Parellada whose label reproduces the original 1887 label of the first sparkling wine made by the family), on this occasion I have chosen Leopardi 2014, as it is at a great moment to drink. Creamy nose with white fruit and dried herbs on the background. Dry, fresh, aromatic palate leading to a consistent finish. Another great buy.
Grape varieties: 45% Xarel.lo, 40% Macabeo, 15% Parellada
Ageing: minimum 72 months
Disgorgement: June 2021
Alcohol: 11.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €22

Julia Bernet 130 2015 Brut Nature. Xavier Bernet and his wife Cristina started bottling the grapes from their small plots in the foothills of the Ordal mountains in the mid-2000s. The N-340 road that connects Barcelona with Vilafranca del Penedés lies just outside the winery and its charming store where they sell their still and sparkling wines as well as other crops (peaches, almonds...) grown by themselves. Their premium range, of which this 130 forms part, is made only from Xarel.lo and is a textbook Penedès sparkling wine: fine, fresh, with aniseed and toasty aromas, well-integrated mousse and good balance. 
Grape varieties: 100% Xarel.lo
Ageing: minimum 75 months
Disgorgement: June 2021
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €24 

Hermós 2017 Brut Nature, Celler Pardas. The latest producer to join Corpinnat, Pardas has earned a well-deserved reputation for its still wines made from local grape varieties (mainly Xarel.lo, Sumoll and Malvasía de Sitges), which are also the source of their sparkling wines set to be released next year (this is a sneak preview). As Ramón Parera says, "what we are in wine, we are also in bubbly". He describes Hermós as their village sparkling wine. It is a blend of different plots, mostly planted to Xarel.lo, which contributes with aniseed aromas, but also red Sumoll that adds red fruit notes. The floral notes at the start turns into racy citrus fruit on the palate; it feels vinous underneath the bubbles. Production is limited in this first vintage but 16,500 bottles were produced in 2018. The top of the range will be a single-vineyard blanc de noirs made exclusively from Sumoll.
Grape varieties: 70% Xarel.lo, 30% Sumoll
Expected retail price in Spain: 24 €
Sample tasted prior to disgorgement

Gran Torelló 2014 Brut Nature, Torelló. Covering 135 hectares of land in the outskirts of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, at the foot of the Montserrat mountain, the Can Martí vineyard is the source of Torelló's sparkling wines. The house remains faithful to the traditional Xarel.lo, Macabeo and Parellada blend of this Gran Torelló, its top sparkling wine (except for its limited late disgorging series) and an excellent way to get to know the best expression of the estate’s terroir: "Soils that prevent the plants from absorbing water and where the vines suffer,” says Paco de la Rosa Torelló. This 2014 is complex, with fine pastry and toasted aromas. The palate is rich with a creamy texture, fine, small bubbles and a long finish with hints of dried herbs. 
Grape varieties: Xarel.lo, Macabeo, Parellada
Ageing: minimum 84 months
Disgorgement: March 2021
Alcohol: 11.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €28 

Gramona III Lustros 2013 Brut Nature. An specialist in ageing sparkling wines for extended periods, it is always good to remember that the base wine of their top three cuvées (III Lustros, Celler Batlle and Enoteca) is exactly the same although the requirements to become Celler Batlle or Enoteca are met only in certain vintages. This is why many specialists consider III Lustros to be the house's flagship brand. The excellent 2013 vintage is elegant with fine autolysis notes evolving to petrol and dried herbs aromas. Acid and bitter notes mix deliciously on the palate and the finish is remarkably long. 

I had the chance to compare 2014 with 2007, which is part of Gramona's new Library collection. The aim here is to prove the wine’s complexity after extending periods of aging but also post disgorgement -in this case in April 2015. 2007 was excellent and rich, with toasted aromas, hints of praline and a true explosion of dried herbs. Creamy, almost exuberant palate with vibrant acidity and persistence. The wine is only available through a new private club launched to mark the 100th anniversary of the company as a sparkling wine producer in 2021 -various events will follow over the next year.
Grape varieties: 65% Xarel.lo, 35% Macabeo
Ageing: minimum 84 months
Disgorgement: June 2021
Alcohol: 12.5%% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €30 

Turó d'en Mota 2007 Brut Nature, Recaredo. It’s easy to define Recaredo’s philosophy: the house only produces vintage sparkling wines of the driest style (Brut Nature), aged with natural cork stoppers and manually disgorged. Turó d'en Mota is an essential wine to try, at least once in a lifetime, given the special characteristics of the old Xarel.lo vineyard it comes from. It is a narrow strip of land planted in 1940 on silt loam soils and framed by a hill crowned by pine trees; a shaded, north-facing plot, perfect to obtain wines with high acidity. The bottle I tasted had been disgorged seven months earlier. It was very expressive and complex (alcohol soaked herbs, smoke aromas) with restrained development; rich and fresh on the palate with a lot of nerve and length. A truly distinct personality.  
Grape varieties: 100% Xarel.lo
Ageing: minimum 100 months
Disgorgement: December 2020
Alcohol: 11.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €100 

RNG 20 1997 Brut Nature Magnum, Nadal. The traditional inheritance laws in Catalonia with a single hereu (heir) made it possible to preserve farming estates in Penedès, such as Can Nadal de la Boadella. This property has been in the hands of the same family since 1510, although the first sparkling wine was not produced until the 1940s. With 80 hectares under vine, the top brand is RNG, and it is only made in the very best vintages for Xarel.lo. There are three different versions: a brut, a brut nature with 10 years’ ageing and the one we are reviewing here: a brut nature with 20 years’ ageing sold exclusively in magnum bottles. This is evident on the price, but it is a great choice for celebrations with many guests. Despite its age, it showed surprisingly fresh both on the nose and the palate. We loved the petrol notes and the vibrant acidity. 1,050 magnums were produced. 
Grape varieties: 56% Xarel.lo, 30% Parellada, 14% Macabeo
Ageing: minimum 20 years
Disgorgement: October 2020
Alcohol: 11.5% vol.
Retail price in Spain: €195 

CLÁSSIC PENEDÈS

The most defining trait of Clàssic Penedès sparkling wines is arguably the creative freedom that comes from being able to use all the varieties authorised in the DO Penedès. This, combined with the personal vision of each winemaker, results in a colourful mosaic of styles. Thus, one can jump from Miquel Jané’s unconventional Sauvignon Blanc fizz to Torre del Veguer Moscatel and the original cuvées by Colet Navazos with Sherry dosage. Just like Cava and Corpinnat, we have chosen a single sparkling wine per producer amongst those scoring 90 points or more. All of them are ordered by price.

Colet Tradicional Extra Brut 2016. Widely present internationally, the Colet family have been growing grapes since 1783. They were sharecroppers until 1984, when they acquired the land they had been working until then. Although they produce sparkling wines with extended ageing periods and work in partnership with Sherry négociants Equipo Navazos (their truly original, long-lived sparkling wines use a small amount of fortified wines from Jerez in the dosage), this Extra Brut is a great buy. A serious sparkling wine with an unusual complexity in this price range, with dried grasses and yeasty aromas, good acidity and well-integrated bubbles. You won’t get tired of it.
Grape varieties: 50% Xarel.lo, 40% Macabeo, 10% Parellada 
Ageing: minimum 24 months 
Disgorgement: June 2021
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €12.50 

Mas Comtal Xarel.lo Reserva 2016 Brut. Still on the subject of Catalan farmhouses, Mas Comtal is a property with 40 hectares under vine at the foot of the Garraf massif. Owned by the same family since 1355, it carries the Milá surname since the 18th century. This sparkling wine is made from the oldest Xarel.lo vines in the estate, ranging between 60 to 80 years old. Fine aniseed notes, white fruit and toasty aromas. The mousse is a bit prominent on the palate, but it feels fresh, lively and tangy, with a pleasant bitterness on the finish.
Grape varieties: Xarel.lo, Chardonnay 
Ageing: minimum 15 months 
Disgorgement: January 2021
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €12.50 

Miratge Extra Brut 2017 Reserva, Finca la Font de Jui. This was a new producer to us, but one clearly inspired by the récoltant manipulants of Champagne. Finca La Font de Jui controls the entire process, from vineyard farming to winemaking, bottling and selling. The grapes are grown biodynamically and the winery is named after the estate (La Font de Jui is in a site known as La Pedra Blanca in the village of Subirats). Though not very complex, it is a well-balanced, nicely crafted sparkling wine, with some fruit still present and a pleasant bitterness on the finish. Everything is in the right place here.
Grape varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Ageing: minimum 18 months
Disgorgement: July 2020
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €14
 

Loxarel Refugi Reserva 2017 Brut Nature. Josep Mitjans is one of the most audacious, restless producers in Penedès. He pioneered amphorae in the area and released a long-aged sparkling wine without disgorgement. At his farmhouse and winery in Vilobí del Penedès he makes pét-nats and traditional method sparkling wines, the latter sold as Clàssic Penedès. His ageing cellar used to be an underground air raid shelter built during the Civil War. The appropriately named Refugi (shelter in Catalan) comes from 70+-year-old Xarel.lo vines. Beautiful nose with hints of honey and flowers and a savoury palate, with vibrant acidity and well-integrated bubbles. It will continue to develop nicely in bottle.
Grape varieties: 100% Xarel.lo
Ageing: minimum 32 months 
Disgorgement: June 2021
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €16
 

Argila 2012 Reseva 4 Anys Brut Nature, Mas Bertran. Siblings Eva and Santi Ventura launched this project in 2005 after several years experimenting with different sparkling wines. Located in Sant Martí Sarroca, the Venturas also make still wines using local grape varieties. Part of their premium range bubbly is sold under the Argila brand, which includes a Sumoll rosé and this Xarel.lo aged for four years. Honeyed and toasted notes on the nose with present but pleasant bubbles and marked acidity that needs to integrate a bit. Pleasant bitterness and nuttiness on the finish. 
Grape varieties: 100% Xarel.lo
Ageing: 48 months
Degüelle: November 2020
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Precio: €21

Esparter Parcela Única 2015 Brut Nature Reserva, AT Roca. Although the AT Roca project was born in 2012, it is clear that fizz also runs through the veins of this side of the Torelló family. One of its major contributions to the area comes from their single-vineyard sparkling wines, such as this Parcela Única, a plot grown at 320 metres elevation on limestone soils in the Ordal area. The nose stands out for its fine lees with pain grillé, grass and apple aromas. Consistent, balanced palate with fine bubbles; ready to be enjoyed from the first sip.
Grape varieties: 100% Macabeo
Ageing: minimum 40 months 
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €21 

Albet i Noya Brut 21 Barrica 2015 Reserva. A pioneer of organic wines in Penedès, this winery produces a wide range of both sparkling and still wines. The cellar is located next to the family farmhouse in the village of Sant Pau d'Ordal, home to the Albet family since the beginning of the 20th century, first as sharecroppers, later as owners. Brut 21 is the premium sparkling range and Barrica sits at the top of it. The name is a reference to the barrel-fermented Chardonnay that is later blended with Pinot Noir, following the classic champenoise style. Complex nose with preserved lemon and wilted flowers. Lovely creaminess and evolution on the palate, offset with a saline touch on the finish.
Grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Ageing: minimum 48 months
Disgorgement: September 2020
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €30 

CONCA DEL RIU ANOIA

Mas del Serral 2010, Vins Pepe Raventós. Following 2007 and a low-yielding 2009 which meant a limited number of magnums, 2010 is the third vintage of Pepe Raventós's most ambitious sparkling wine made at the family property in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. The laconic front label is a stark contrast with the detailed information provided on the back. Grapes are sourced from Clos del Serral, an extreme, north-facing, late-ripening vineyard planted in the 1950s on a slope with over 7% inclination. With distinctive carbonated soils rich in marine fossils, all the work is done by hand and with horses. Somehow, it conveys the search for purity that obsesses Pepe. With a hefty price tag, the 2010 vintage looks for depth, verticality and a slow evolution. Perhaps its main quality is the extremely long, dry, sweeping finish, with its briny notes and chalky texture. Availability is limited to 2,047 bottles and fewer than 500 magnums.
Grape varieties: Xarel.lo, Bastard Negre
Ageing: 100 months
Disgorgement: October 2021
Alcohol: 12.5% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €190 

OTHER

Cuvée Esplendor Vardon Kennett 2014. The sparkling wine that Familia Torres produces in an independent winery in their Santa Margarida d'Agualladoç estate in Penedès does not adhere to any designation or DO. Having consistently focused on still wines, they chose to rely on Champagne's iconic grape varieties when they made the leap to bubbly in the 2013 vintage. This wine blends Chardonnay and PinoT Noir grown in the region's higher areas with a small amount of Xarel.lo. Named after a British merchant who produced wine and lived on the estate in the early 19th century, Vernon Kennett might sound strange for a Spanish wine, but there’s a solid liquid inside the bottle. The style is fresh, taut and complex (a small part of the Chardonnay is fermented in oak barrels) with citrus fruit. An inviting sip, perfect to welcome guests in style. Those who appreciate a special packaging, will be pleased by the carved bottle.
Grape varieties: 85% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 5% Xarel.lo.
Ageing: minimum 38 months
Disgorgement: Auguste 2021
Alcohol: 12% abv.
Retail price in Spain: €32
 

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