Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut – Quite a Bargain

When it comes to cheap sparkling wines, Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut is an easy, go-to wine.  If you’ve shopped for sparklers very often I’m sure you’ve seen this distinguishable black bottle on the shelf — and perhaps you’ve wondered if it’s any good.  It’s not bad at all and for the price it’s pretty awesome.  You may have also wondered how to pronounce the name.  The producers say that it’s pronounced “fresh-eh-net,” which means I’ve been mispronouncing it for years.  I was close, but I always dropped the “t” at the end — which I will probably continue to do because I think it sounds more elegant.

It’s not a knock-your-socks-off kind of sparkler, but it’s decent.  And for $12 decent is a great.

This wine is a Cava (i.e. a sparkler from Spain) and is made from Spanish varieties of grapes, macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada.

The aromatics on this sparkler are nice but nothing extraordinary.  It offers pear, lemon, wet stone and light floral aromas.  The mouthfeel is fabulous, with a creamy texture and lots of bubbles.  The flavors are brimming with crisp apple, pear and lemon-lime, with good acidity and concentration.  The finish is a little short, but pleasant.  It’s an enjoyable sparkler and a good value for the price.

Wine: Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut 
Variety: 35 % Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 40% Parellada
Vintage: Non-vintage
Alcohol: 12%
Rating: 85
Price: $12.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.