Avinyó Gran Reserva Cava 2014 “La Ticota Selecció” is a rare artisanal bubbly from Spain that we made part of our Annual Sabrage Party. In contrast to the run-of-the-mill industrial Cava machine, Avinyó sparkling house has a different approach to Cava production.
Avinyó Story
Avinyó starts with their location in the Catalan countryside in the remote village of Avinyonet del Penedès, where the Esteve family traces their history back to 1597 when they built their Masia (Catalan farmhouse) named “Can Fontanals.”
While the Esteve family has been growing grapes in the Alt-Penedes region for generations. And started producing their own wines in the late ’70s. They own around 100 acres and, since 2019, farm organically only.
Dedication to quality at Avinyó extends to the winery. Unlike the common practice of aging Cava for a minimum of 9 months required by law, Avinyó minimum ages their “entry-level” Reserva cuvée for 24 months, with many of their bottlings receiving at least 36 months on the lees.
There are a few more things that separate this producer from the rest of the Cava “crowd.” They make wines only from estate-grown grapes, and all Avinyó Cava is from a single vintage. What does it mean?
Unlike most other producers, they don’t use solera wine is used here to produce boring uniformed a “house-style,” therefore allowing a true reflection of the terroir and vintage.
Finally, to retain flavors and freshness, they disgorge on-demand each lot right before the shipment in refrigerated containers to the US.
Avinyó Gran Reserva Cava 2014 “La Ticota Selecció
In the Bottle
2014 “La Ticota Selecció” Gran Reserva is a blend of 85% Xarel-lo and 15% Macabeo grapes that came not just from a single vintage. They came from La Ticota, the Avinyo’s oldest single vineyard planted to these two varietals in 1945.
At harvest time, these organically grown vines were almost 70 years old! The estate only makes wines from this small 5-acre lot in the best vintages. Just as strict as they do in the Champagne region.
Before release, Grand Reserva bottles spend over five years aging on lees. This is longer than some of the best Champagnes.
What’s the big deal? Let’s find out together!
In the Glass
2014 Avynió was a beauty, starting with tiny bubbles and persistent creamy mousse.
The first striking feature of Avynio was brioche aroma – something that many producers attempt but few achieve in Cava.
The brioche was followed by Golden Delicious apple, peach candy, allspice, pear, and hay.
The palate was a balanced concoction of apple cider, apple candy, peach, limestone minerality, and the lovely bitterness of orange oil, finishing with a persistent ripe pear.
Aftertaste Notes
As we savor the oenophilic memories of 2014 Avinyó Cava “La Ticota Selecció,” we think the Champagne would’ve been jealous.
The texture, balance, bubbles, and flavors played together as a masterfully written symphony delighting every sense of bubble lovers. It was among the top two sparkling wines at our Annual Sabrage Party 2022.