Jaume Serra Cristalino Cava Reserva Brut Nature NV DO Cava, Spain
This Cristalino a solid go-to Cava.
The base wine is using traditional grapes like 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel-lo with no Chardonnay and Pinot added to it, so it is always with certain sweet fruit to the dryness. So with medium acidity and yeastiness, the palate is healthy and clean, with a narrow set of citrus and apple/pear flavors. Fairly full and long on the finish for the standard, which makes the whole package more than worthwhile given the cost. This fine Spanish sparkling wine is made using the Traditional Method, in which the secondary fermentation producing a sparkling wine's bubbles occurs in the bottle. The re-fermentaion is with nine months on lees, then this Reserva has gone through minimum 30 months bottle ageing.
Easy to drink. Bubbles are adequate, middle of the road type, but don’t expect it to be like one with density and 'ping-pong' of a true Champagne? Apples and pear, nose of dry citrus, quite light & dry light tonic water, expressly effervescent though. Good-buy.
