Elyssia is separate label produced by Freixenet (pronounced ‘fresh-eh-NET) one of the largest producers of sparkling wine in the world. You may know Freixenet from their ubiquitous black Cordon Negro Cava, which is the #1 imported sparkling wine in the world.
This Cava is different in that none of the grapes used in the traditional Cava blend are present in this bottling. Instead Pinot Noir, a grape not widely associated with Spain, and Trepat, a little known indigenous black grape used mostly for Rosé Cava are used.
Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut Cava
Region: Spain>Catalunya>Cava
Variety – 85% – Pinot Noir/ 15% – Trepat
Residual Sugar – Unknown
$19, 11.5% a.b.v.
Production method: Méthode traditionnelle;
My tasting notes follow:
Appearance: Lovely blush pink salmon color
Aromas: Fresh bread dough, raspberries, and cherry aromas
Body: On the palate, a moderately aggressive mousse, medium bodied, dry with a bit of fruitiness, and soft acidity
Taste: Raspberry and ripe cherry with a hint of tangerine on the back palate.
Finish: Short-Medium
Pair with: The beauty of sparkling wines is their versatility with food, because of their palate refreshing quality (think scrubbing bubbles;-). This was delightful as an aperitif and with food. I enjoyed this with a traditional Filipino style meatloaf called embutido, and glazed carrots. But this would be a versatile pairing partner for a host of foods such as sweet and sour dishes, or mildly seasoned pork, or poultry dishes.
This is good value for a sparkling Rosé at $19. I recommend! 86 pts (Click here to find this wine)