2019 Avinyo, Petillant vi d’Agulla, Penedès, Catalonia, Spain.
I am a big fan of the Cava at Avinyo, but I rarely twist the cap on their zingy fresh Petillant, so tasting recently seemed a bit like tasting it for the first time and I was joyous and grateful for the experience with this 2019 vintage popping out of the glass with its dry crisp effervesce and its delicate jasmine perfume, it is so refreshingly light that it was perfect for Summer day sipping. Avinyo’s Petillant vi d’agulla, which means “prickly wine” in Catalan, is named for its slightly effervescent sparkling nature, vibrant character and the hint of bitterness, it is a fun white minerally wine that is great as an aperitif or a palate cleansing primer to a meal, especially good with oysters and or fresh steamed claims, its fine mousse (bubbly fizz) always brings out smiles. The Petillant is traditional summertime quaffer of the Penedès region, also known by many as the Spanish Cava zone when you think of this area with many historic and old caves making authentic method Champagne style sparkling wines and Avinyo’s excellent version is made from Muscat, Macabeo, and Xarel-lo, with this vintage showing the unmistakable markers of the Muscat with the noted jasmine flowers and racy and tart almond bite.

The Mediterranean climate and flavors are wonderfully accented by this Petillant vi d’Agulla which pop with the gentle fizzy mouth feel and the brisk layers of zesty citrus with lemon/lime and unripe orange as well as peach pit, Spring herbs, wet stones. The Avinyo Petillant is made in simple fashion and crafted to be drunk early and often without any serious thought needed, its vinification was started by a fermentation in stainless steel from early picked grapes, hence the low alcohol, with a direct press and no malo-lactic allowed to preserve every bit of tanginess zippy freshness as possible. The carbonation in the Avinyo Petillant is created by the charmat method of secondary fermentation in tank with the introduction of the CO2. As mentioned, I usually buy and enjoy Avinyo’s exceptional Cavas, which are fantastic bubbles, in particular I love their Brut Reserva that is produced with 100% free run juice and aged 18 to 22 months before being disgorged in classic Champagne style, it is outrageously good and a fabulous value at well under $20 a bottle. That said, I quite liked having this bone dry Petillant and can imagine having a few bottles in the coming warm months, it should provide simple comfort with a glorious sunset or two.
($16 Est.) 87 Points, grapelive

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