Cava
What is it?
Cava is a sparkling white wine from Spain (though it can come in a rosé style if any red grapes are used). It is also a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant similar to Chipotle, but that's not what we're reviewing today. This wine often uses native white grapes from Spain, like Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Cava wine is meant to be served ice cold in wine flutes. Cava also uses a tiered Denominación de Origen system, similar to other European wines we've reviewed.
Primary flavors of Cava include quince, lime, yellow apple, chamomile, and almond. Suggested pairings are paella, tapas, and other Spanish or Mexican foods. We had this food with Mexican takeout from Copal, a restaurant neither of us had tried before. We both liked what we ordered and would recommend it as a Lincoln restaurant.
Molly's Rating and Tasting Notes
7.0. On the nose, there's a sweet apple or lime scent that is enticing. However, the flavor profile changes completely in the mouth, with little sweetness in the taste. It's similar to a lime peel or what I imagine a sugarless lime to be like. It's also very carbonated - they aren't lying when they say it is sparkling. With the food, it started feeling very much like hard liquor in the mouth and throat - almost a burning sensation. All in all, it's mostly drinkable, but I don't think I'll have it with food again.
Ryan's Rating and Tasting Notes
8.3 On the nose I get lime, cotton candy, and Amaretto. There is also a slight floral component that I can't quite put my nose on. Upon sipping, the first thing I notice is the mouth feel. It is just superb with this wine. It is light and tingly, and really elevates the wine. The taste is decent with much less sweetness than I would expect from the nose. Some tasting notes I get are pear, lime, star anise, and possibly quince. I've never had quince, but this has a distinct flavor that reminds me of other wines that list quince as a tasting note. It doesn't blow me away with complexity, but for a brut wine, it's easy to drink and quite tasty. I tried this wine at a later date than Molly, so I had it with instant ramen instead of Mexican food, that I think paired surprisingly well. Overall a nice, refreshing, easy wine to drink. Would definitely have again on a hot summer's day.
References
[1] Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack. Wine Folly: The Master Guide. Avery - A Penguin Imprint, New York, NY, 2018.
[2] "Cava." Wine Folly. https://winefolly.com/wines/cava/. Accessed: August 2023.
Wines we haven't finished
- Week 29 - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano