This is a deliciously complex Cava with notes of honey and a lovely autolytic character. Expect subtle red fruit with notes of strawberries coming to the fore. There is also a lovely typicity here by way of hints of celery and grassy character.

Bodegas Aessir is all about crafting top-notch wines with a strong sense of place. Based in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Barcelona—Cava country—they kicked things off in 1929 by breathing new life into a historic cellar and focusing on native grape varieties. Their Cava Star La Crusset Brut Nature Reserva has racked up plenty of international praise, proving that they know their bubbles. Not content with just one region, Aessir took things up a notch with a bold project in Cuenca, where they produce organic wines from the Bobal grape. Perched at 969 meters near the stunning Cabriel River Natural Reserve, these old-vine wines (some over 60 years old) bring serious character to the table. And the adventure doesn’t stop there—Aessir has also set up shop in DO Terra Alta, Tarragona. Here, at 480 meters altitude, they focus on white Grenache and produce three unique wines from calcareous-clay soils. One standout, "El Cavall de Barcelona," even features a label designed by sculptor Xavier Dols.