Faustino Brut Cava

Produced from macabeo and chardonnay, and done up in a highly oxidative, yeasty-leesy style, Faustino’s Cava smells like a warm brioche with lemon custard, complex in the price category. The palate is more aggressive, with plenty of froth and aggressive bubbles, so don’t expect the finesse and refinement of higher end traditional method bubblies. But for the money, again, there’s a good deal on offer. Tasted July 2023. Score – 88. (John Szabo, MS, winealign.com)