B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
Ranked among “the finest and most elegant sparkling wines being made in Spain” according to Vinous critic Joaquin Hidalgo, this enticing 93 pt. duo from leading Spanish producer Raventos delivers incredible bang for the buck among its sparkling wine peers, each boasting a concentrated, fruit-driven core with grippy minerality and a frothy mousse on an elegant finish and bargain priced for stocking the cooler just in time for holiday celebrations.
Boasting a five-century history stretching over 21 generations in Catalonia’s Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, the Raventos family were the founders of Cava producer Cordoniu, the first to apply the traditional method used to make Champagne to classic Penedes grape varietals in the late 1800’s and later pioneering the blend of the three indigenous grapes that would become the industry standard. Selling their interest in Cordoniu in 1984 in response to a Cava’s overall decline in quality and reputation, the Raventos family refocused on making vineyard-driven sparkling wines from their 90-hectare biodynamically farmed estate across from their old winery and established Raventós i Blanc in 1986, officially withdrawing from the Cava classification in 2012 and championing the creation of a new D.O. with higher standards. Described by the Wine Spectator’s Alison Napjus as “a firm, focused sparkler, with a pleasingly crisp, lightly chalky texture”, the lush 93 pt. 2021 Raventos i Blanc de Nit Rosado Brut Rose is blend of 49% Xarel·lo, 34% Macabeo and 12% Parellada with the addition of 5% old vine Monastrell to add complexity and enhance its rosy color, its creamy texture coming from extended lees aging in bottle and the name ‘De Nit’ translating as ‘Of the Night’ in Catalan in reference to the estate’s cool evening harvest times considered optimal for preserving freshness. Sourced from vines averaging over 40 years of age and composed of 40% Xarel·lo, 39% Macabeu, 15% Parellada and 6% Malvasia de Sitges, the fresh and silky 93 pt. 2022 Raventos i Blanc Blanc de Blancs aged for up to two years on the lees, yielding a fresh, aromatic sparkler with impeccable balance described as “pure, clean and pleasant” and declared “complex and expressive beyond its price point” by the Wine Advocate’s Luis Gutierrez.
Renowned as the benchmark for vineyard-driven sparkling wines in Spain, these impeccably crafted 93-point Raventos selections express their mineral-rich terroir in a fresh, elegant style, an “unmatched value” according to the Wine Spectator’s Keith Newton perfect for mixing a case and a sure bet for sparkling wine lovers seeking to pop the cork more often.
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