The Bohigas Cava Brut Reserva is the perfect festive bottle of bubbly to drink this holiday season. This is not your basic "Mimosa Cava" folks -- it's actually quite Champagne-like with its fine bubbles and complex aromas and flavors.
"This is a really lovely bottle of Cava that shows every sign of being able to age gracefully for a decade in the cellar." - John Gilman
Since 1290, the Bohigas family have been growing grapes near the town of Odena, just 45 minutes inland from Barcelona. It is here in the Anoia River Valley that the best-of-the-best Cavas come from, and Bohigas has got to be the best value of them all.
I am always hesitant to pour this one up against real-deal Champagnes. It always holds its own, and it costs a fraction of the price. We had a bottle over the weekend, and I was reminded of how good this wine is and of my trip to this region a few years ago. Look at the picture below -- those are Bohigas' certified organic and biodynamic vines front and center, with the dramatically beautiful Montserrat Mountains in the distance.
It is not just me that admires this wine, both the Wine Advocate and John Gilman (View from the Cellar) loved it to, rating it 90 and 91 points respectively. A classic blend of the native grapes of the region (Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada), this is "an excellent value for consumers looking for alternatives to French Champagne," said the Wine Advocate.
They are right, as this offers up a marvelous bouquet of apple, lemon, white currant, crushed rock, and brioche. Bone dry on the palate, it is crisp, elegant, refreshing, and zesty, and it could easily be mistaken for a true Champagne.
I love that we can offer such a dynamic and tasty Grower Cava up at a price that beats the mass-produced, inferior Cavas found in big box stores. All in all, this is my pick for one of the greatest sparkling wine values in the world.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
