Author: Gisela

The Pujol-Busquets family has earned a distinguished place in the Peñín Guide, consolidating its position as a leader in the production of high quality cavas and proving once again the singularity of the Alella – Serra de Mar territory. For the third consecutive year, Alta Alella 10 has been the cava with the highest rating, and 3 more cuvées from the winery stand out in the podium of the guide’s best wines. Furthermore, another 15 wines from Alta Alella and Celler de les Aus were rated with more than 90 points.

During the first half of 2023, the Guía Peñín tasting team has reviewed nearly 9,800 wines from more than 2,000 wineries from all over Spain. This year, a record number of 333 wines have been included in the podium, a small group of exceptional references that have been qualified with 95 points or more.

For the third year in a row, the Pujol-Busquets Family leads the Cava and sparkling wine ratings, and demonstrates once again the singularity of the Alella – Serra de Mar territory and its exceptional characteristics for producing great wines with ageing capacity. Out of the 23 sparkling wines in the podium, Alta Alella is the winery with the most outstanding references (4 cuvées), including the cava with the highest score in the guide: Alta Alella 10 · 2012.

This year’s edition of the guide also confirms the ageing potential of Pansa Blanca variety and its ability to captivate the most exigent palates, as the three vintages presented of Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo (2004, 2005 and 2017) have a remarkable presence in the podium.

Podium 95+

Alta Alella 10 2012 – 97 (Best cava)
Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2005 – 96
Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 – 95
Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo · Paraje Calificado Vallcirera 2017 – 95

Besides the cavas highlighted in the podium, 15 other Alta Alella and Celler de les Aus wines have been awarded more than 90 points. These distinctions reflect the dedication and passion of the family and show their ability to produce a wide range of high quality wines.

Cavas & ancestral wines 90+

Alta Alella Mirgin Opus · Paraje Calificado Vallcirera 2019 – 94
Alta Alella LAIETÀ 2018 & 2019 – 94
Alta Alella MIRGIN 2019 – 92
Alta Alella LAIETÀ Rosé 2019 – 91
Alta Alella MIRGIN Rosé 2019 – 90
Aus Bruant 2020 – 90
Aus Pét-Nat 2021 & 2022 – 90

Wines 90+

Alta Alella Dolç de Neu – 94
Alta Alella Cau d’en Genís Evolució+2017 Magnum – 93
Alta Alella Cau d’en Genís 2022 – 92                         
Alta Alella Lanius 2021 – 92
Alta Alella Orbus 2021 – 91
Alta Alella Dolç Mataró 2020 – 91
Alta Alella Cau d’en Genís red 2021 – 90
Alta Alella Aus Tallarol 2022 – 90      

All these wines will be presented at the Salón de los Mejores Vinos de España in Madrid (IFEMA), a very important fair for the wine sector, on 13th and 14th November. The organizers maintain their commitment to quality by selecting only those wines that have obtained 90 points or more in the “Guía Peñín de los Mejores Vinos de España 2024” (Best Wines of Spain by Peñín Guide 2024). The new edition will be released mid-October, but the scores can already be checked online (registration is required).

The renowned international challenge Gilbert & Gaillard 2023 has rewarded our cavas with the Double Gold Medal, the highest distinction within the contest. 

Tasting notes from the jury:

Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004: «Lemon yellow colour. Nose of white fruits and stewed citrus fruits, floral and vegetal touch, note of rancio. Mature and fresh palate with beautiful aromatic depth. Well-defined fruit supported by a delicate bitterness. Oxidative style, for rich dishes.»

Alta Alella Mirgin Opus 2019: «Golden yellow colour. Nose with aromas of toast, crème fraîche, citrus and ripe white fruits. Pleasantly oxidative mouthfeel combining a fleshy attack, suppleness and finesse, aromatic density with a ripe and delicate fruit. Well developed and charming.»

The prestigious international competition for wines made with the Grenache variety has awarded the Gold Medal to Alta Alella GX Rosé 2022.

This edition of the competition (the 11th) was held for the first time outside Europe, specifically in New York, and more than 800 Grenache wines were tasted by the jury, made up of 80 professionals from the sector including distributors, sommeliers, importers, as well as journalists and influential people from the world of wine.

Alta Alella GX Rosé is a rosé wine made with the Garnatxa Negra and Garnatxa Peluda varieties, with a remarkable intensity of fresh strawberry aromas, citrus notes and rose petals. It is fresh, well balanced and with a distinguished minerality and salinity. A perfect match to enjoy on hot summer days.

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Organic cava

Alta Alella LAIETÀ Gran Reserva: 92

“Pale sesame seed and miso flavors meet in this clean, savory sparkler. Completely dry, it presents xarel-lo under the light influence of chardonnay and pinot noir. An austere Cava to pour with cracked crab.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Alta Alella MIRGIN Rosé Reserva: 90

“Rustic austerity takes this monastrell rosé toward tannins in its red fruit flavors that last. Dried cherries and Ruby Red grapefruit hold to the sense of austerity. For cured duck sausages.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Alta Alella Mirgin EXEO Paraje Calificado Vallcirera: 90

“Rich and not overtly sweet, this blend of xarel-lo and chardonnay has a peach melba flavor to its toasty fruit, clean and fresh. Tinged in pink.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Natural cava (no added sufites)

AUS Bruant: 91

“There’s sweetness to this xarel-lo’s underripe strawberry flavors and caramelized baked-apple notes. The texture is creamy, even as the acidity provides lasting freshness. For caviar-topped fried oysters.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine