The beautiful afternoon in Chicago today was just begging for some rosé. I bought a couple of Rosé Cavas on clearance at the local Binny’s last year that were now set to battle to the death.
First to the plate is the NV Mas Fi Brut Rosé Cava. When I first opened this, the nose let out fleeting hints of strawberry, red berries, minerals, stale bread, and decaying nuts. Very little fruit transfers over to the palate. This is cloying and dirty. With air, the remnants of fruit dissipate - giving way to a chemical bug spray. A truly appalling wine; this met its fate in the kitchen sink. 62 pts.
Off to a bad start, I had little hope for the second wine. Boy, what a pleasant surprise the Poema turned out to be. The nose is deep and lush for a rosé, while still maintaining a great level of feminine airiness. I detect rubber, strawberry, ripe cherries, Lavender, and spice. Much to my surprise, there is no real breadiness going on here. As I sit and drink through a few glasses, it still retains all its power and form. The acidity is of a moderately noticeable level - balancing well with both the body and palate. The finish is a very rewarding 30ish seconds. This takes the cake for the best Rosé Cava I’ve had to date. 89+ pts.
