2008 Colet Navazos Reserva Extra Brut

The 2008 Colet-Navazos Extra Brut Reserva is based upon 60% Chardonnay (60%) and the rest Macabeu and Xarel.lo with around 42 months lees aging (disgorged September 2012). It offers an inviting, generous bouquet of almond, dried honey and a subtle yeasty note in the background. The palate is crisp and light on the entry – very airy and delicate with a feminine, extremely focused bone-dry, penetrating finish. It exudes great complexity and remains wonderfully focused in the glass, the flor element becoming a little more pronounced after 5 to 10 minutes in the glass. This is an entrancing, intellectual sparkling wine. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

Approx 60% Chardonnay plus Macabeo and Xarello. Manzanilla to top up. 42 months on lees. Disgorged Sept 2012. More yeasty than the 2009 Extra Brut. Really dry and zesty and salty. Certainly fuller in the mouth than the 2009. Like light, fizzy manzanilla in its appetising mouthwatering style without overly high acidity. Inspired. (JH)