Gathering for the tasting
Maureen introducing the session
President Calpe President Maureen Holliday welcomed 58 members and their guests to Puerto Blanco for a somewhat unusual wine tasting evening. Firstly, in the true Ascot fashion, this was to be a “ladies day”, i.e Maureen had invited three other members of the fair sex to join her in choosing and presenting our nectar for the evening. The team would consist of Susan Blewett, Penny Floodgate, Carole Bentley and Maureen herself. The ladies were going to titillate our taste buds with 5 Cavas of their own choice. The cost of each wine and where it can be purchased and average score given by members is shown in the list of wines tasted in 2019, which can be found by clicking on “Wines tasted in 2019”.13June – Restaurante Puerto Blanco – Calpe
SUSAN`S CHOICE
Susan started the proceedings by introducing a Cava from probably the most famous of Spain’s cava producers. Freixenet is well known to many and is of course from CatalunyaThis particular Cava is created from the grape black Trepat. The Trepat is indigenous to the DO region of Conca de Berbera in the region of Tarragona. As you will have seen the Cava is pale pink in colour, with fine bubbles. There are delicate aromas of wild berries (blackberries, strawberries and raspberries) harmonised with citrus aromas. This cava rosado Trepat is nice and creamy on the palate with flavours of peach and apricot.
Penny giving her Cava
PENNY`S CHOICE
Penny had chosen a Cava from Bodega Castelo de Pedregosa. This is a comparatively young Bodega based in the Alt Penedes region in Sant Sadumi D’Anoia in Catalunya where most of the worlds Cava is produced This Cava is Pedregosa Reserva Millesime 2014 “ Blush “. It is a blend of Pinot Noir, chardonnay and Macabeu with an alcohol content of 11.5%. Colour is golden yellow, with reddish reflections, clean and bright. On the nose it has elegant complex fruit aromas, white fruit, toasted notes, citrus notes and honey. On the palate, fresh, creamy with balanced acidity and excellent with red meat, rabbit, snails, mushrooms, fish & oysters.
CAROLE`S CHOICE
Carole had chosen Vilarnau from a small bodega located in the area of d’Espiells. The Vilarnau winery is located very close to Barcelona, occupying just 20 hectares of land, in a beautiful corner at the heart of the cava region. The first cava labelled Vilarnau was created in 1949 from grapes that had been grown on the estate for centuries. This Cava has a beautiful pale golden
Netty presenting her Cava
colour and on the nose it is clean and fresh, with fruity aromas.In the mouth it has a good balance of crispness and acidity. The Macabeu grape gives flavours of lemons, green apples, pears, peaches, flowers and herbs. Excellent as an aperitif before a meal, paired with canapés, salty snacks, seafood or come to that, it’s a great drink at any time of the day.
MAUREEN`S CHOICES
It would appear that Maureen had problems in selecting one Cava for the evening. The solution was easy, she picked TWO. The first was Queen of Kings Brut Rose Cava made from Monastrell grapes, which are believed to have originated in Sagunto in Valencian province DO – Alicante. It achieved a high score in the Penin guide, which is an achievement for the bodega (Francisco Gomez)
The second choice was Parxet Brut Vintage 2014 DO – Cava. She chose this Cava having firstly been recommended it by Estaban at Bodega Seleccion in El Campello. At a get together with good friends she produced the Parxet for tasting. All were agreed that this Cava was something special. Grape – Macebeo, Parellada and Pensal,colour – Pale yellow, fine and persistant bubbles, fresh, light, balanced and dry, bouquet – elegant,varied notes. Another well deserved high scoring Cava in the Penin guide. Whilst we sampled these excellent Cavas, the Puerto Blanco kitchen had served us excellent food. Finally, Netty Sayers and Martin Bentley poured superlatives on the ladies` efforts, leaving Maureen en in no doubt that the evening had been a huge success.
Text and Photos by Ron Watson June 2019
