By
50 GREAT CAVAS
2013
8
CAVA
CAVA
CAVA
Gramona Imperial
Insuperable Brut
Cava Mas Tinell Brut Rosé
WINERY
Gramona
2007
WINERY
Canals & Munné
2010
AGEING (MTHS)
96
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
97
16
22
(EUROS)
CATEGORY
WINERY
CAVA
Heretat Mas Tinell
2008 SCORE
(MTHS)
97
SRP
AGEING
8,85
48
(EUROS)
Origen Brut
WINERY
Vallformosa
2010 SCORE
(MTHS)
97
SRP
AGEING
16,19
12
(EUROS)
SCORE
(MTHS)
97
BGR
BR
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
G
G
G
G
CAVA
CAVA
CAVA
CAVA
Duran Gran Reserva
WINERY
Canals Canals
2008
BR
Pas de Sucre
WINERY
Conde de Valicourt
2009
(EUROS)
5,99
B
Gramona III Lustros
WINERY
SRP
Gramona
2005
Llopart Ex Vite
WINERY
Llopart Cava
2005
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
36
96
12,5
48
96
17
60
96
24
72
96
39,69
(MTHS)
CATEGORY
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
BGR
BNGR
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
G
G
G
G
BNGR
BGR
(EUROS)
50 GREAT CAVAS
2013
9
CAVA
Agustí Torelló Mata Gran Reserva
WINERY
Agustí Torelló Mata
2008
CAVA
CAVA
Cava Mas Tinell Cristina
Subirat Parent Brut Nature
WINERY
Heretat Mas Tinell
2006
WINERY
CAVA
Finca Valldosera
2009
Cava MasTinell Carpe Diem
WINERY
Heretat Mas Tinell
2006
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
36
95
14
72
95
20,84
24
95
22
72
95
17,87
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
G
G
G
G
CAVA
CAVA
CAVA
CAVA
Permont’s
Rosé Pinot Noir - Brut
BNGR
WINERY
EBGR
Conde de Valicourt
2011
WINERY
BNR
Canals & Munné
2011
BNR
Parxet Gran Reserva Maria Cabane
WINERY
(EUROS)
Parxet
2009
Cava Gran Fuchs de Vidal Brut Nature
WINERY
Capità Vidal
2011
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
AGEING
SCORE
SRP
15
94
7
15
94
10
38
94
16,34
24
94
15
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
(EUROS)
(MTHS)
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
AWARD
G
S
S
S
BN
BR
EBGR
BNR
(EUROS)
50 GREAT CAVAS
2013
25
C O N D E VA L I C O U R T Conde de Valicourt is the smallest of the biggest cava wineries and the biggest among the smallest producers explains co-owner, Alicia Segura. The business started out three generations ago when in 1922 Pere Montserrat I Font bought a share of the estate partnering with the French Conde de Valicourt from the Champagne region. In 1940 the name of Valicourt was bought by Pere’s son and the winery has set this date as the official start of the winemaking enterprise. Martí Pere Montserrat, oenologist and owner together with his wife Alicia Segura (marketing and sales) are today the heirs of Conde de Valicourt.
A truly family run business The whole cava making process is done by hand from start to finish. Unlike many cava producers, Conde de Valicourt own their vineyards (Martí’s cousin) which means that the fermentation of the base wine can be done under supervision at the winery. The process of the second fermentation and ageing on the lees is looked after by Martí – bottles are skilfully stacked horizontally to begin the ageing process. Cement slabs called pupitres are used for the hand riddling process to get all of the sediment into the neck of the bottle and the disgorgement is done without freezing the neck of the bottle. Conde de Valicourt produces some 60 - 65 000 bottles per year. Permont’s Brut Nature (Xarel.lo, Macabeo and Parellada) is their best-selling wine, with 12 – 18 months ageing on the lees; it is their youngest cava and is extremely popular. Alicia tells us that it is their Cava Brut Nature sin maquillage (without make-up) which is how they like to call it; extremely dry with only 0.03 g/l of residual sugar. The Reserve Rosé de Valicourt is a rare find as it is made with Garnacha Tinta. It is aged for a minimum
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of 18 months and has won numerous awards including Gold at the Giroví 2011 wine competition (Vinos y Cavas de Catalunya). During our visit Martí got out a tool which appeared to be something from a dentist in the old Wild West. We were about to witness a disgorgement in seco i.e. without freezing the sediment in the neck of the bottle. What a pure pleasure it was to drink their four-year-old Pas De Sucre Brut Nature Gran Reserve (Xarel.lo, Macabeo, and Parellada) at room temperature straight after the suggestive disgorgement à la volée! This is a true test for the flavours and the bouquets of the cava where the visitors are invited to take part in such an important and personal stage of the cava-making. The winery offers visits with an appetizing package which comprises of a tasting of the cavas accompanied by a picqui-picqui (aperitif ) of local nibbles such as fuet and pan con tomate. They also offer a larger alternative food option which is a traditional Spanish tapas menu of gazpacho, pinchos, jamon and Spanish omelette.