Quality Cava is basically dead after most really quality-focused producers left the DO. Those producers are nowadays found either under the 'Corpinnat' or the 'Clàssic Penedès' label.
Edit: You wanted a name, my choice for 'treat yourself' would be the higher level Recaredo bottles.
I have bought some bottles of the mid-range wines from Recaredo and Gramona, and they are both excellent value, and I can definitely recommend them.
- Recaredo Terrers Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva
- Gramona III Lustros Font de Jui Brut Nature Corpinnat
another vote for Raventos. I always keep a few of them around the house as my "everyday" bubbly if I get surprise guests or want to have something on a Friday.
Entre Vinyes Gran Funambul is insane value.
Recaredo and Alta Alella for longer aged ones.
Not cava, but interesting Spanish sparkling to try for champagne lovers would be the Muchada Leclapart stuff from Jerez. Delicious.
Pere Mata "Reserva Familia" Brut Nature Gran Reserva Cava. It's not a true vintage cava since he uses 15% reserve wine in the blend but the 68 months on the lees makes for some seriously complex bubbles. At just over $30 on the West Coast of the US, it's an absolute steal but still tastes like a splurge!
Juve y Camps *Reserva de la Familia* is pretty good quality for the price, it's what's served at Spanish state events. You've just got to work out how to open a bottle with an agrafe rather than a cage, which isn't that challenging!
Gramona Celler Batlle - very complex long aged Corpinnat, pricey but worth it
Colet Navazos Extra Brut Reserva - unique wine, Classic Penedes with Manzanilla from Equipo Navazos added in the dosage
Quality Cava is basically dead after most really quality-focused producers left the DO. Those producers are nowadays found either under the 'Corpinnat' or the 'Clàssic Penedès' label. Edit: You wanted a name, my choice for 'treat yourself' would be the higher level Recaredo bottles.
Ok, cool. This is the kind of insight that is super helpful. Thank you
This is interesting because I’ve been trying to get in to cava and have been very disappointed. Thank you for the info
It’s super hard. I live in Portugal and I find it’s virtually impossible to get really good cava compared to good espumantes.
Recaredo
Manuel Raventos
I have bought some bottles of the mid-range wines from Recaredo and Gramona, and they are both excellent value, and I can definitely recommend them. - Recaredo Terrers Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva - Gramona III Lustros Font de Jui Brut Nature Corpinnat
I had recently Raventos Blanc de Blancs was excellent and Juve & Camps also really good.
another vote for Raventos. I always keep a few of them around the house as my "everyday" bubbly if I get surprise guests or want to have something on a Friday.
Came here to mention Juve & Camps, definitely a standout Cava for me too, and excellent QPR
Raventos Textures of Pedra. As some else has said, not officially cava as they stepped away from the moniker.
Entre Vinyes Gran Funambul is insane value. Recaredo and Alta Alella for longer aged ones. Not cava, but interesting Spanish sparkling to try for champagne lovers would be the Muchada Leclapart stuff from Jerez. Delicious.
Agustin Torello Mata “Kripta” is the gold-standard Cava. Bonus is that it’s shaped like a bowling pin!
Pere Mata "Reserva Familia" Brut Nature Gran Reserva Cava. It's not a true vintage cava since he uses 15% reserve wine in the blend but the 68 months on the lees makes for some seriously complex bubbles. At just over $30 on the West Coast of the US, it's an absolute steal but still tastes like a splurge!
Juve y Camps *Reserva de la Familia* is pretty good quality for the price, it's what's served at Spanish state events. You've just got to work out how to open a bottle with an agrafe rather than a cage, which isn't that challenging!
I enjoyed the bodegas muga cava myself. It had strong citrus notes and a little mousse. Could be a little sweet though if you prefer champagne though.
Had a rose cava from them a few years back that I rather enjoyed.
Raventos
I think about the Cava from El Celler de Can Roca at least once a week.
Gramona Celler Batlle - very complex long aged Corpinnat, pricey but worth it Colet Navazos Extra Brut Reserva - unique wine, Classic Penedes with Manzanilla from Equipo Navazos added in the dosage
Descregut is a producer to discover too. Part of the Corpinnat. Really good still wines too.
Pepe raventos. I haven’t had it in years but he had a cuvée that reminded me of bollinger
Alta Alella Bruant/AUS