This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Cava over £15 went to Rovellats, Masia Segle XV Gran Reserva Brut Nature, Cava 2005 (11.5%)
Tasted against:
- Codorníu, Gran Codorníu, Finca la Nansa Xarel.lo Gran Reserva Brut, Cava 2007
- Rovellats, Col.lecció Extra Brut, Cava 2007
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The Rovellats estate, 40km west of Barcelona, can trace its name back to the 10th century. But it was the cool, 12-metre deep cellars in the 15th century farmhouse, the Masia del Segle, which came to be of key importance to Josep Valles Rovira. He established his Cava winery here in the early 20th century (making it one of the oldest wineries in Penedes) and won acclaim for his wines at the 1929 Barcelona Grand Expo.
Rovellats is now a 210-hectare estate run by third generation brother and sister team Ma Rosa and Josep Cardona, who rely entirely on their own fruit for their wines. Production is still 80% Cava, although a recent innovation has been the introduction of still wines from indigenous varieties Monastrell and Garnacha, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Vines for this Trophy-winner are grown at a cool altitude of 500m with the blend being 50% Xarel-lo, 36% Macabeo, 9% Parellada and a 5% addition of Chardonnay to give lift and freshness. Mature vines of 30 to 60 years of age provide low-yielding, focused fruit. The first fermentation is done in stainless steel, with the bottles maturing in cellars (at a natural 98% humidity) for up to six years on lees after the second fermentation. Just over 6,000 bottles are made.
Written by Decanter
