Alta Alella’s cava, amongst the 50 best wines in the world at Decanter
2024.06.22
Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 is crowned as ‘Best in Show’ at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards
Alta Alella’s cava and two Champagnes represent the elite of sparkling wines in Decanter’s selection of the 50 best wines in the world
We celebrate an extraordinary achievement by receiving the ‘Best in Show‘ medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the most prestigious wine competitions worldwide.
Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 has been selected amongst more than 18,000 wines from 57 countries, consolidating its position as one of the 50 best wines in the world, alongside great exponents from France, Italy and other renowned winemaking countries. It is also the only cava, and the only Spanish sparkling wine, to hold the highest category.
“It is an honor to see how our work and passion for cava are recognized worldwide. Our goal has always been to create wines that express the uniqueness of our terroir, with a strong commitment to quality and sustainability. This award confirms that we are on the right path,” explains Mireia Pujol-Busquets, co-director and second generation of the winery.
A legacy of excellence
“Fresh and lifted on the nose” with “a high-impact palate: searching, long and fine-foamed”, reads the tasting note of the jury. Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 has seduced the palates of a panel of 243 recognized wine specialists from 33 countries -including 20 Master Sommeliers and 61 Masters of Wine-, who blind tasted thousands of wines from around the world.
When this wine was made in 2004 those changes were still a decade or more away [referring to the DO Cava’s new zone and subzone legislation] – but they’re prefigured here, in what was clearly a vanguard style with clear sub-regional identity, note the awards experts.
This collectible cava from the Pujol-Busquets family has been patiently aged for more than 18 years on the lees with a cork stopper. It is made from a blend of the traditional Pansa Blanca (Xarel·lo) and Chardonnay grapes from the Vallcirera vineyard, now classified as a Paraje Calificado (“Grand Cru – single vineyard”.
“Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 is more than a wine; it is an expression of the Alella’s singular terroir and our firm commitment to quality and authenticity,” says Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets, winemaker and founder of the winery.
The Alta Alella vineyards are planted less than 2 km from the Mediterranean Sea and are grown in Sauló, a granitic sandy soil with good drainage and low organic matter. These characteristics give the wine an excellent natural acidity, excellent for long ageing. The jury confirmed: “Two decades in the cellar have brought great harmony, but the freshness of the raw materials is still evident”.
