Cava, which ones do you like

Castellroig is producer I buy the most, though I've also like cava from Juve y Camps and Raventos.

lleichtman wrote in news:df8d7275-3c7f-459f- snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

My favorites:

Light-hearted, as a starter: Agust Torell Brut Reserva (with a dark green label)

Versatile Cava that go well with food: Gramona III Lustros and Gramona Imperial

The most elegant: Ravents i Blanc. I truly love their De Nit Ros 2009 (which we consumed by the case at home). I dislike "Reserva de la Finca" for lacking finesse but every other upper bottling, and specially their top cuve, called Manuel Ravents is outstanding and price is not that high for the quality.

Recaredo is also considered a great producer, but I dislike the house for non wine related matters and actually think that their wines are overpriced. Their top cuves are a joke price-wise.

Juv i Camps (suggested by Dale) is too industrial for my taste, but they make a good millesim.

I'll keep an eye open for these producers- not sure that I have seen most o ther than Raventos. In the case of Raventos and Juve y Camps, as noted I've enjoyed bottles, but not really enough to have an informed opinion. Castel lroig is only cava I buy regularly. But John Gilman just did a cava feature in View from a Cellar, between that and Louis A Parker I have a shopping l ist!

DaleW wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

Perhaps not all of them are available in the U.S.A. but I just tried to tell you my favorites. If you happen to shop in an online shop, please post the link and I will tell you which Cavas I like from their list.

Regards,

s. btw, I do not pretend to be competition to John Gilman (who I respect a lot).

OK, checked a few. With the differences in store websites, sometimes tough (not all use cava in names, some you can search by country/type but not on others.

My favorite store (Chambers) only carries 2 I've tried and liked, the basic Castellroig Brut and the Raventos rose

Zachys has the Gramona Gran Cuvee Cava 2008 @ $20 (other bottlings by this producer on your list), and 2 in the upper $30s from Colet Navazos - an Ext ra Brut and a Reserve (Zachys prices are high but can usually get discount with patience)

Grapes has the Gran Sarao Cava Rose @ $9.99, Marques Tomares Don Roman Cava @ $14.99, and Naveran Brut Cava @ 13.99 (before discount).

Those are stores I buy at the most. I occasionally shop at Astor, which seems to have biggest selection (but so me industrial) NV Cristalino @ $8 Savia Viva Brut Reserve @ 9 Perelada Reserva @$10 Assorted Freixenet (off dry, black label, nature) NV Casas de Mar @11 NV Cellers de Can Suriol del Castell, "Azimut" Brut Nature $15 Berdié Romagosa Brut Rupestre" @ 16 Parés Baltà Brut $16 Avinyó Cava Brut Reserve @18 Segura Viudas Reserva Heredade @ $20 Recaredo Brut Nature 2007 @ 34

2006 Kripta Brut NatureGran Reserva, Torello Mata - $110!!

John is a friend and I'll certainly pay attention to his report, but no cri tic from another country tasting samples is going to have the depth of expe rience of a dedicated amateur from Spain (I did notice he also praised Rave ntos).

OK, checked a few. With the differences in store websites, sometimes tough (not all use cava in names, some you can search by country/type but not on others.

My favorite store (Chambers) only carries 2 I've tried and liked, the basic Castellroig Brut and the Raventos rose

Zachys has the Gramona Gran Cuvee Cava 2008 @ $20 (other bottlings by this producer on your list), and 2 in the upper $30s from Colet Navazos - an Extra Brut and a Reserve (Zachys prices are high but can usually get discount with patience)

Grapes has the Gran Sarao Cava Rose @ $9.99, Marques Tomares Don Roman Cava @ $14.99, and Naveran Brut Cava @ 13.99 (before discount).

Those are stores I buy at the most. I occasionally shop at Astor, which seems to have biggest selection (but some industrial) NV Cristalino @ $8 Savia Viva Brut Reserve @ 9 Perelada Reserva @$10 Assorted Freixenet (off dry, black label, nature) NV Casas de Mar @11 NV Cellers de Can Suriol del Castell, "Azimut" Brut Nature $15 Berdi Romagosa Brut Rupestre" @ 16 Pars Balt Brut $16 Aviny Cava Brut Reserve @18 Segura Viudas Reserva Heredade @ $20 Recaredo Brut Nature 2007 @ 34

2006 Kripta Brut NatureGran Reserva, Torello Mata - $110!!

Santiago, any feedback on any of these? Any you would buy?

"Dale W" wrote in news:514751eb$0$20217$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

Never had Castellroig. Raventos de Nit I obviously like.

I have not tasted this one but I respect the producer so I think it is worth trying.

, and 2 in the upper $30s from Colet

The reserve (green label) is dosed with Manzanilla de Sanlucar (Sherry) and has a very saline profile. The Extra-Brut is dosed with Palo Cortado and has a more aromatic profile, with nuts, caramel. Both are very interesting but perhaps a bit expensive for the asked price (I think they are not so expensive in Spain).

I have not tasted any of them, I am afraid.

Perelada makes a good top of the line cava called Gran Claustro but I do not know their basic Cavas (and I have the perception that they are a bit industrial, but I can prove wrong).

They are obviously very industrial, and the off-dry and black label are not worth the attention of a serious wine lover. The Vintage Nature can be interesting, as is also the case with Anna de Codorniu, another decent Cava from a large industrial producer.

All unknown to me.

They do organic farming so that's worth trying

Segura Viudas belongs to Freixenet and they produce mass-market Cavas

One of the best producers. Organic farming, non-dos. Very dry and with a long aging on the lees. Should be good.

Top of the line for Agust Torell Mata, with a very special glass bottle resembling an amphora. It is expensive here also and I have had it a few times in tastings. I do not think it is worth the $110. Their basic Brut Nature, I love it, though.

I am afraid I was not of much help.

s.

Not at all, most helpful. I'll try the Gramona, and maybe Colet Navazos if I get a substantial discount. And I might try the Pares Balta and the Recaredo.

I wonder if some of the ones you don't know are export only bottlings.

The Torello Mata Kripta is also praised by Gilman, who says it's like a tete de cuvee Champagne quality wise (and gives a 95). But I admit to a prejudice- if I am going to spend $100 on bubbly (rare!), it'll almost certainly be Champagne.

Thanks

DaleW wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

I have the last issue of Gua Pen Magazine, the most influential of the Spanish wine guides (not that it is influential ala Parker), and several of the wines that you listed were mentioned (Castellroig, for example). But I do not have it at home.

I know of some wineries that make special cuves for the U.S. Market. Other wineries use the same designation but different juice inside. But I do not know if this is the case.

Yes, that is my point also and the main reason I do not know some of the wines in your list. We are big Champagne lovers and drink quite some grower NV Champagne which we like to lay down for a couple of years. Full retail price of the basic NV wines of grower Champagne is around

30 euro in Spain, and can be less if you have good connections. So, at home, we end up drinking Cava in the 10-15 euro (like the Ravents Ros de Nit 2009) but when we spend 30 euros... we actually prefer Champagne with a couple of years.

Kripta is around 40 euros here and I do not purchase it. Recaredo Tur d'en Mota is around 90 euros and I feel the same. Many cuves by Recaredo are in the 50 euros and they are too much for me. For that price I can get a 2002 or 2008 Spcial Club Champagne from one small grower which are three times these wines.

As you know, Cava and Champagne do not share grapes, soils or climate, and it is not very common to find Cavas that can improve with age (even if we are talking 3-5 years). There are a few Cavas, such as Celler Batlle by Gramona or Ravents i Blanc "Gran Reserva Personal Manuel Ravents" that go to the market with 10 years on lees and they are great, with the Ravents still on fruit, and the Celler Batll all on the autolysis (a bit too much for my taste). But they are the exception rather than the rule.

Before I forget, another excellent Cava producers are Llopart and Albet i Noya (specifically their Reserva 21 Barricas).

Happy hunting and drinking! We need to keep exporting wine to improve our economy!

s.

@googlegroups.com:

Thanks for the information. I actually printed out this thread so I could do a little research to see what's available in our market. FYI, I recently discovered a nice grower champagne that is well priced and delicious. Agrapart. The entry level called "Terroirs" is my favorite.