An exemplary zero dosage Cava from this historical family-run estate.
A deliciously complex, yet elegant, zero dosage Cava. Wood smoke, toast and baked apple on the nose, followed by stone fruit, mineral acidity and finely structured bubbles. Long, savoury and concentrated.
The Can Macià estate in Odena - around 50km north west of Barcelona and just 10km from the foothills of Montserrat - dates back 800 years and still belongs to the same family, of which Jordi Casanovas Bohigas is a direct descendant. He, together with his daughter Maria Casanovas Giró, run the winery and estate.
Cava is king here. Mas Macià's first Cava was released in 1936, but much of its production was still sold to other Catalan producers. However, investment in the cellars in 2000 led to renewed emphasis on high quality estate-bottled wines, both sparkling and still.
The Can Macià estate has over 35 hectares of vineyard, along with forests and wheat fields. The family also owns the 54 hectare Can Batllevell estate in Gelida (half-way between Odena and Barcelona) where its limestone soils and Mediterranean climate lead to early-maturing grapes. These estates combined mean that the family has access to Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Garnatxa Blanca, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon - with some vines over 50 years old.
At 450m in altitude, the estate is the second highest winery in the region and at the very limit of Cava production.
Delicious as an aperitif, great with tapas, but equally with enough concentration and complexity to drink throughout a meal.