Pretty in Pink

I received a mixed case of bubbles from the Champagne Warehouse yesterday and, as one does, I immediately put a bottle in the fridge - especially as I was keen to try the new range of cava that I ordered. My husband was pleased to see it when he got home, as we had an intense night of catching up on taped episodes of Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother in front of us.

We opened the 1+1=3 Brut Rose Seleccion, a blend of Trepat, Garnacha, and Pinot Noir grapes, to sip while we watched. Now, I know I'm not supposed to judge wines solely on their colour, but I have to say this was the most beautiful wine I have ever drunk. It was intense, glowing, and ruby red, the kind of colour you want to see in your best crystal rather than the regular old glasses we were using. It was a visually stunning wine, something you could appreciate for its beauty alone. On top of that, it smelled like a mix of wild strawberries and mint, like the perfect summer dessert. This cava was impressive even before I began to drink!

The flavours were fantastic, too. The wild berries continued along with a bit of sour cherry and a dry but ever-so-slighty-sweet finish. My husband and I decided it's the kind of sweet you get with an Italian soda - the juicy-fruity-refreshing kind of sweet - as opposed to the teeth-aching, 'how many tablespoons of sugar are in this' kind of sweet you get with an American soda.

The cava was more fizzy than bubbly, but the fizz lasted throughout so it was OK.

It's tempting to say this is the kind of thing you would drink (and drink lots of!) as an aperitif on a hot summer day. But to be honest, it was perfect last night, following a day of grey and rain at the end of a very long work-week. It cheered us up, it reminded us that the freshness of spring is ahead. So don't shelve it for the summer, enjoy it now!!