SAQ Cava do Blanca Cusiné 2016, Parés Baltà, Penedès, Spain

Follow this link for SAQ: https://www.saq.com/fr/12591021

Great Catalan bubbles

We recently had the pleasure of serving this great Cava at a vintage wine tasting. Since one rarely encounters Spanish traditional methods with 80 months of lees aging, we can rejoice in the availability of this one this Thursday.

The Cusiné family is among those winemaking families who are sincerely in love with their audience, and for Joan, Quebec has always been a loyal market. You have likely encountered their entry-level Cava, a serious and reliable bubble that has remained affordable for years.

This Cava is in another vein, with a blend of 80% Xarel-lo supported equally by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white grapes are vinified together in stainless steel, while the Pinot Noir spends two months on the lees with frequent stirring for a palpable addition of texture.

The final aging on the lees is long, transforming the wine and bringing capital letters to CAVA… Named in honor of the women of the estate, and more specifically the daughter of Maria-Elena and Joan who was born with the first vintage in 2002, you will want to take a break to appreciate this wine. A deep yellow and shy bubbles, which favorably betray the prolonged aging, lead us to an ample and silky mouthfeel, as is the way with matured bubbles. Dried fruits, candied orange, and toasted almonds will take you on a journey from Barcelona to Vilafranca del Penedès on the train of gustatory pleasure.

• To pair with it: Salad with fresh figs and buffalo mozzarella, nice oil, and drizzles of aged balsamic,
• For the anecdote: The estate has been in operation since 1790, but it is really the two wives of the Cusiné brothers, Maria Elena and Marta, who are behind the leap in the estate's quality with their expertise in viticulture and winemaking,
• To better understand sparkling wines: Stay informed about our next workshop on the world's bubbles,
• For an exploration of the Parés Baltà family: Indigena Garnatxa 2021 at $25 in SAQ (13565502)