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$62.00
Jerez, Spain
This project originally included the expertise of lauded winemaker Dirk Niepoort and Quim Vila. This is the seventh vintage and Niepoort is no longer involved but his name is on the label in recognition of the major role he played. 100% Palomino off 30 year old vines. Single vineyard fruit from the outstanding Macharnudo Alto site, often referred to as the "Montrachet of Jerez". The Albariza chalk here is the Tosca de Barajuelas variety. This soil type contributes to low yields and thick-skinned grapes and produces chalky, saline wines. Hand-picked and naturally fermented in a 40-year-old bota which was filled five sixths to encourage flor. It then spent 11 months under the flor before bottling. A fairly intense nose showing almonds, straw, chalk dust and a hints of sourdough starter. Expressive, vibrant, fresh and dry on the palate with nuances of apples, dried apricots and slightly sour nectarine. The fruit, mineral and saline dimensions all work together beautifully to deliver an outstanding wine with a very long, fresh finish. An outstanding match with mackerel or Jamon Serrano.
This project originally included the expertise of lauded winemaker Dirk Niepoort and Quim Vila. This is the seventh vintage and Niepoort is no longer involved but his name is on the label in recognition of the major role he played. 100% Palomino off 30 year old vines. Single vineyard fruit from the outstanding Macharnudo Alto site, often referred to as the "Montrachet of Jerez". The Albariza chalk here is the Tosca de Barajuelas variety. This soil type contributes to low yields and thick-skinned grapes and produces chalky, saline wines. Hand-picked and naturally fermented in a 40-year-old bota which was filled five sixths to encourage flor. It then spent 11 months under the flor before bottling. A fairly intense nose showing almonds, straw, chalk dust and a hints of sourdough starter. Expressive, vibrant, fresh and dry on the palate with nuances of apples, dried apricots and slightly sour nectarine. The fruit, mineral and saline dimensions all work together beautifully to deliver an outstanding wine with a very long, fresh finish.
An outstanding match with mackerel or Jamon Serrano.
Varietal / Blend: Palomino
Decant: Recommended
Closure: Screw cap
Farming Practices: Sustainable
It all began in December of 2005 during a visit to a small and antique bodega in Sanlúcar, when these Sherry lovers “discovered” several dozen butts o fan exceptionally fine old amontillado that had spent twenty years without running, unsold. They selected the equivalent volume of a butt and bottled it privately under a brand name that evokes Edgar A. Poe’s popular story “The Cask of Amontillado”: La Bota de Amontillado “Navazos”. These scarce 600 bottles triggered the hunting activities of Equipo Navazos (‘Navazos Team’). Another two selections, still exclusively intended for private circulation, would appear along 2006. The results aroused great enthusiasm among this reduced circle of partners, and limited releases of later selections appeared in the market through several important distributors that had participated in the venture from the beginning. Since the summer of 2007, backed by the enthusiastic support of a small number of good friends who are also distributors and importers, a small amount of these bottles is made available for the general public: La Bota de Amontillado “Navazos”, La Bota de Fino “Macharnudo Alto”, La Bota de Palo Cortado “Bota Punta”, La Bota de Manzanilla, etc.
Later, the number of bottles in circulation has increased, always within the boundaries of an artisanal approach: a few thousands of bottles at the most, sometimes a few hundreds only. Also, Equipo Navazos have increasingly involved in the different phases of production, working closely with the producers from the very vineyard sometimes, and even by partnering with friend winemakers in the development of some specific wines and brandies made under our direction.
The wines of the series La Bota are bottled in limited series, in successive numbered editions of dated releases (the date of each saca or withdrawal has been precisely stated on the label) so that aficionados can deliberately compare different editions of the same solera if they so desire. This also enables a precise following of their evolution, since—like all great wines—these are expected to evolve during their bottle life. The first editions were made available exclusively within a private circle, so, should you find any one around by chance, its origin will be invariably the reduced quota of one in the thirty or so private “partners” whose support and enthusiasm have made this thrilling project possible.
