When Ramon Nadal Giró returned from the Spanish Civil War to find his family's vineyards had been turned into an airfield by fascists, he didn't just rebuild—he reimagined. Twenty meters underground, he carved out cellars that would become the foundation of his family domaine.

Fast forward to 2018: Caves Nadal joins eight other estates in walking away from the Cava D.O. They weren't leaving because they couldn't meet the standards—they were leaving because the standards weren't high enough. The Corpinnat trade group was born from this exodus, with rules so strict they make most quality designations look lenient: 100% organic grapes, hand-harvesting only, estate fruit only, and aging minimums that start where others end.

This 2016 Brut Nature blends 57% Parellada and 43% Macabeo, and ages them SIX YEARS on the lees. Aromas of lemon rind, mirabelle plum, and white peach are complemented by fresh herbs and flinty, leesy goodness. All made from estate-grown vineyards the family has tended for over 500 years. Champagne made with this level of care and investment costs $60 and up, period.

Why You'll Love It

• Ridiculous overdelivery: At $36, you're getting a wine that soars with icons like Recaredo and Gramona, and would embarrass some very big names in grower Champagne. This wine is impossibly good for this price: leesy, citrusy, custardy, with a beautiful lemon-gold color.
  

• Corpinnat premium: The overwhelming majority of Champagne producers wouldn't qualify for Corpinnat membership. When you see that word on the label, you're getting the pinnacle of sparkling wine standards in not just Spain, but in the EU. Period.
  

• History in a glass: From a family that's been making wine since 1510, on land they reclaimed from one of Franco’s airfields, in cellars carved 20 meters deep. True ingenuity and perseverance like this transcends Cava.

How to Serve It

• Serve at 42-46°F in white wine glasses.
  

• Drink now through 2032—with 72 months already on the lees, this is ready to drink but will continue to improve.
  

• Incredible with fresh oysters or scallop crudo, or Fideuà, a Catalan noodle-based dish similar to paella.