If you don’t like a good glass of bubbly at New Year’s, this review is not for you. I cannot ever recall a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day where I did not have some form of bubbly, either the non-alcoholic stuff as a kid, or the real deal as an adult. For me, sparkling wine goes with New Year’s as fries go with hamburgers.
Must your New Year’s drink of choice be Champagne? Of course not! You can also have prosecco, a sparkling wine from California, or a decent cava. For brunch today, we opted for a cava called Marqués de la Concordia Brut (2022 vintage) that I had acquired some time ago. Not sure where, when, or at what price.
I found this cava unique and very much a step above what you typically find when it comes to cava. Its aroma was fruity, with hints of guava and almond notes. It did not have the strong yeasty aroma that one often finds with other cavas.
In the glass, the wine has nice full bubbles typical of a cava, with a delightful light gold color.
The flavors that I got were various fruits with chalky notes. The fruits were pear, peach, and apple. The finish was bright and acidic with orange flavors coming through.
This wine makes a great aperitif and would pair well with Spanish cheeses. Today I used some of it for brunch mimosas. It worked fine, but a reasonably priced, serviceable prosecco would do just as well. No need to waste the good stuff in a cocktail, and this is the good stuff. I agree with the 92 rating from Wine Enthusiast.
I just wish I could recall where I got it and what I paid for it, because I would love to grab another bottle. Goal for 2026: Make better notes when buying wine!
Leave a Reply