I’ve said it before, but it is worth repeating (especially as the prices of sparkling wines increase), I know of no finer producer of Spanish sparkling wines than Raventós i Blanc. Over a decade ago, Raventós i Blanc left the official Cava DO because they felt that lax regulations led to substandard wines, degrading the Cava name. Instead, Raventós i Blanc is vigorously promoting Conca del Riu Anoia, the area where they are located, as a new DO, but have yet to get official recognition. Official recognition notwithstanding, Raventós i Blanc’s wines are consistently excellent across the board. I have happily consumed cases of various vintages of their well-priced De Nit Rosé. Pepé Raventos, the current head of this family domain that traces its origins to 1497, describes this wine, Vinya dels Fòssils – De la Finca, as their virtual Grand Cru. They use organic and biodynamic farming of the usual Spanish grapes for sparkling wine, Xarel-lo, Macabeu, and Parellada, to make this exceptional wine. The 2023 delivers a harmonious combination of subtle fruitiness and mineral-like accents. Extended aging on its lees just adds another level of complexity. With all that’s going on in this sparkler (very discreetly, I might add), its finesse is what captures your attention.
In short, it really sings!
95 Michael Apstein – August 19, 2026