From an "especial" single vintage and from the big F, I expected more. A lot more. At this price it's fine even good maybe, with good bubbles, dry after-taste and some Marie biscuits. Probably the best of the £6 or so reductions however I was wanting £12 but didn't get it.

agree.
Think it is just a relabeling of the cordon negro.

Looking on the Frex website there isn't even a mention of the Vintage Especial so looks like just a label for marketing purposes that happens to be on offer at the 2 Ts (Tesco & Threshers) quite regularly

Have to say from recent experiences, I'll be reaching for prosecco (and perhaps some of the Chile or Argie offerings) rather than cava for cheap fizz in future

Cordon Negro isn't a vintage wine.

Frexienet used to have a vintage cava in a dark green bottle. I assumed this was it, renamed.

may be a new format for the vintage stuff but I think it's just a UK thing tbh.

They're both usually sold side by side with one or the other being on sale but having a similar initial reatil price.

Both have the black bottle, the only difference being the label

Oh, apologies

I saw a new vintage Freixenet on sale in Waitrose but it was in a green bottle.

Not much going on, can't tell the difference

I think the guy who wrote the post for the '07, did the Freixenet a favour these days. TBF, the wine has reduced in price over the last decade, and to my mind, has deteriorated from the reputation it once had in the nineties.

Shez and Pont are spot on, and like P, I saw the "vintage" name on the label at Waitrose, but passed as you do. Cordon N is all made in the same year isn't it. I'd be surprised if any of those grape varieties are going to keep their interest in bulk stainless tanks from one year to another - are they Mr P.

Like Ba, the last one I bought, was the last. I'm sorry it's gone this way. The Freixenet company was taken over by GK's favourite claret negotiante

I'm sure we'd all be pleased if good ole Cordon Neg was back to something interesting. I think we all agree, there are now much better chardonnay fizzes from Chile for similar money.

Parellada is very thin, DYA on the Costa at 5C as I remember.

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Duncan

By co-incidence I have a glass of the Cordon Negro by my side.

Its a long time since I last bought it but friends shopping in Costco told me of a six-pack with six champagne glasses for £35.

Well, I'm very pleased with the glasses and with the wine.

I don't like Chardonnay sparklers -- I think Chardonnay makes a bland fizz. I prefer my Champagne to be Blanc de Noir.

And if I'm not going to drink Champagne then I want a fizz made from different grapes for a different taste rather than a carbon copy.

As to NV -- I guess that Cordon Negro is made NV for teh same reason the majority of Champagne is NV -- in order to keep a house style over different vintages.

Incidentally, I opened the Cordon Negro on Sunday as a pre-dinner aperitif, stuck an ordinary cork in the neck and put in fridge door. Another glass for me last night and finished with two glasses today. Not so much fizz left today, but still a stream of bubbles rising and a good froth on pouring.

Ref the link to Tims blog, £4.99 Freixenet Vintage Especial 2007 seems a crazy price for an 'Especial'.

Wonder how much it is at the cellar door

With the champagne glasses, that is a steal.

Glad Freixenet Cordon Neg is back to some sort of Catalan form. Ba thought is was half/half decent as well. The Especial could be a label, it is A typical of Yvon Mau trading.

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Duncan

Got the '08 now, from the 25% jobby. Needed comforting. Was running an unusual 4-session event with wireless scoring software untried in anger. Pluperfect until starting the final round when hands were raised all around the room. The whole shebang had crashed. Gained some yrs, lost some weight but evensshhhhhhually got it back. Went for this as a reward and was not disappointed. Much more character and flavour than the '07. **** should have got more. Nice. Not quite the class of Lindauer but nice...yeah. This bottle is asking to be finished....ah well...

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.