Cava has a reputation problem, and Mercat is the bottle we reach for to fix it. It comes from the Penedes, built on the classic Catalan trio of Macabeu, Xarel-lo and Parellada, with a splash of Monastrell for its pale copper-pink color and a hint of red fruit. What sets it apart from the supermarket stuff is time and care: 18 months resting on the lees, double the legal minimum for the DO, and disgorged to order so it shows up fresh instead of tired. Dosage is restrained, so it lands dry and snappy rather than candied. This is the sort of bottle you open on a Tuesday because opening it doesn't require an occasion.