The Segura Viudas Brut Cava is a blend of three local grapes, 50% Macabeo, 30% Parellada, and 20% Xarel-lo sourced from vineyards in the Catalunya region of the Penedes DO in eastern Spain. This is their entry-level Cava but does not have entry-level production specifications.
Cava is a Sparkling wine made in the Champagne style. That means the second fermentation (where the bubbles are added) occurs in each bottle. The second fermentation for the Segura Vidas Brut Cava lasts a minimum of 15 months. This is a non-vintage Sparkling wine so various years can have different lengths of aging. In Champagne, the minimum is 18 months, but this is a nine-dollar wine compared to pricey Champagne.
One of the unique production techniques of Champagne is autolysis. That is the breakdown of the dead yeast cells by enzymes, this adds flavor and complexity to the wine. The Segura Vidas Brut Cava also uses autolysis, again a nice touch of a wine selling for $8.99. I found it at Trader Joe’s but it is widely available.
You may not be familiar with the Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo grapes but they are indigenous grapes that are a common feature of Cava. The Segura Viudas Reserva Brut Cava uses mostly Chardonnay and the second fermentation lasts 3 years. That is the wine with pewter pieces on the bottle and it sells in the $25 range.
Cava Sparkling wines typically sell at a fraction of Champagne wines yet use many of the production techniques. The closest large city is Barcelona. Cava is a quality Sparkling wine with Barcelona style. The alcohol content is 11.5%.
The Segura Viudas Brut Cava Tasting Notes
The color is gold with a hint of copper. The nose is lemon, melon, yeasty bread, green apple, lime, dried pineapple bits, and a hint of cream. The Segura Viudas Brut Cava is a medium-bodied wine with complex flavors and balanced acidity.
This Bubbly tastes like Meyer lemon, Golden Delicious apple, melon, light herbs, and light spice. The mid-palate has a creamy texture that contrasts well with the bright acidity, along with nectarine, and peach. This is a well-made Bubbly.
The Summary
- The Segura Viudas Brut Cava is a very tasty Bubbly, some value-priced Cava can lay the acidity on a little too thick, but this Bubbly gets it right.
- A bottle of good quality wine has excellent length and well-balanced acidity, and that describes the Segura Viudas Brut Cava.
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