Recaredo Subtil Gran Reserva 2008

"The 2008 Subtil Gran Reserva Brut Nature also wears the name of the vineyard where its grapes are grown, the Finca Serral del Roure. The bottle I tasted spent 80 months in bottle with the lees. 2008 was a challenging year, with a lot of rain in May and the subsequent botrytis. At Recaredo, the vineyards yielded 34.2 hectoliters per hectare on average, when the Cava appellations allows up to 88 hectoliters per hectare. It's mostly Xarello with some 29% Chardonnay. Chardonnay was only used until 2013, when it was discontinued and only local varieties are grown since then. The nose is certainly subtle (pun intended!) but perfumed, and with some time in the glass it opens up to floral notes with fine bakery aromas. The palate is superb, with power and elegance and very good freshness. This wine started as a blend of Xarello, Macabeo and Chardonnay, then the Macabeo disappeared. In 2014 there is no Subtil, as they regrafted the Chardonnay to Malvasía (which will probably go to a still wine from Celler Credo), and from 2015 it will be 100% Xarello. 12,000 bottles produced."