Serral Del Vell Brut Nature 2013 — Recaredo

Recaredo is located in Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, the absolute cava stronghold, but has turned its back on the D.O. Cava appellation. Cava appellation and now markets its wines under the Corpinnat designation of origin. Indeed, one still has to be careful as hell not to call the great wines of Recaredo Cava. Corpinnat is the region between the imposing Montserrat Mountains and the nearby Mediterranean Sea. The Corpinnat appellation brings together under its umbrella the leading quality wineries that have broken with the D.O. Cava and now want to be increasingly recognized by their high-quality sparkling wines. Cava is much too broad in mass and with a simple image for this.

The sparkling wines of Recaredo are produced according to traditional methods. They mature under natural corks on the yeast. The shaking and degorgement of the bottles is done manually. All wines are Brut Nature. The 2013 Serral de Vell Brut Nature is made from 51% Xarel-lo and 49% Macabeu. It was aged on its lees for 69 months before being disgorged in January 2020. The long yeast storage is an absolutely unique selling proposition of Recaredo.

Brilliant straw yellow with light greenish reflections with a fine, active perlage.

The nose of the Corpinnat directly exudes Mediterranean flair. The Macabeu contributes intensely fragrant notes. Hay, dried herbs, lemon zest and grated lemon find their way into the glass. The yeast resonates discreetly in the background, while nuances of wet stones and dry earth contribute character. With increasing oxygen, the yeast then appears more dominant and is wonderfully complemented by a tone of wet chalk.

On the palate, the Serral de Vell manages the balancing act between aromatic freshness and pure minerality. Thus it seems more compatible for a larger audience - both to the aperitif and versatile to the kitchen. The mousseaux is mouth-filling and permanently invigorating. The fine perlage repeatedly sets accents on the palate. Overall, the Catalan shows itself elegant and delicate. Its stony-cool attributes are precisely and clearly worked out. The aroma in the aftertaste is restrained and repeats the impressions of the nose.