Paula's Wines of the Week
06/10/2008
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Cava, Spain's answer to champagne, celebrates its heritage this second week of October. Held every year in the cava-growing region of Catalonia in northern Spain, sparkling wine makers and its fans all get together for a week of dancing, singing and, oh yes, drinking.
And why wouldn't you want to drink lots of this sparkling wine that tastes better than many champagnes? It costs a lot less (supermarket own-label cavas can be got for as little as £4) and the enjoyable flavours can be relied upon year after year. Only in years with exceptionally hot summers can grapes grown in the northern France region of Champagne ripen as fully as those grown in Catalonia. Catalonia's long, hot growing season allows grapes to build up the high levels of sugars and acids necessary to produce balanced and complex sparkling wines.
The native grapes Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo are capable of making really fruity tasting cavas with a sweet edge, but they need to be aged for a couple of years to reach their full potential. Cava's minimum stipulated nine months ageing produces fresh and simple lemon and lime flavoured wines. But age the wine for another year and the flavours mature into lemon-sherbet and well-done toast covered with honey
£3.99 and under
Supermarket own-label Brut or Demi-Sec Cava, £3.98/£3.99 from Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda; £4.99 Somerfield; £5.99 Waitrose
All supermarket own-label cavas can be relied upon to offer easy drinking enjoyment at a bargain price. Expect sharp lemon flavours in the drier Bruts and sweeter lemon sherbet tastes in the Demi-Secs.
£5.99 and under
Marques De Monistrol Vintage Brut 2005 and Marques De Monistrol Vintage Rosé 2005, £4.99 Tesco www.tesco.com (down from £9.99 until October 7)
At three years old these cavas have developed some elegance – dry, sharp flavours in the Brut with redcurrant and cherry flavours in the pink version.
Co-op Cava Brut, £4.99 Co-op www.co-operative.coop/food/
The Co-op's own-label cava offers good value, with digestive biscuit and hazelnut spread flavours it isn't as sophisticated as the Codorníu but it's as pretty good cava for a fiver.
Codorníu Vintage Brut Cava, £5.24 Tesco www.tesco.com (down from £10.49 until October 28)
The light gold colour of this wine matches its light honey flavours. It's good, but if you can afford it go for Codorníu's Reserva Raventos from Majestic.
Costs a bit more, but tastes great
Codorníu Reserva Raventos Cava Brut, £7.49 Majestic www.majestic.co.uk (only when you buy 2 or more bottles, normal price £9.99)
Still the best sparkling wine around – this wine consistently makes it into my list of top ten wines. Once you've tasted the magnificent combination of apples, pears, satsumas and lemonade with a zingy sherbet finish you'll wish you'd bought more.
If you want to tell Paula about a bargain bottle spotted at the supermarket or off-licence then contact her via jayne.warren@maturetimes.co.uk or directly through her website link below.
© Paula Goddard 2008