Fernando de Castilla Antique Palo Cortado

Producer: Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla Winemaker: Maribel Vergara Country of Origin: Spain Region of Origin: Jerez Grapes: Palomino ABV: 20% Case Size: 6x50cl Vintage: NV Suitable For: Vegetarians Closure Type: Cork

The One-Liner Truly awesome! The awesomeness of which will set any sherry aficionados taste buds trembling.

Tasting Note A fine rare wine, which combines the pure tangy nuttiness of Amontillado with the smooth smoky richness of Oloroso in an elegant complex style.

Producer Details One of the most exceptional of the small, independent sherry houses, Fernando de Castilla was revitalised in 1999 by Jan Pettersen - a Norwegian with a passion for top quality sherry, and 15 years experience at Osborne. After taking over the cellars of the Sherry shipper Jose Bustamante, located next door to the main facilities of Fernando de Castilla, Jan quickly established Fernando de Castilla as masters of the production and ageing of fine, unblended, untreated Sherries. The bodega's reputation is based on the excellence of the Antique range of intensely pure and complex single solera Sherries whose award winning packaging makes them even more impressive. The Antique Palo Cortado was awarded 'Best Dry Fortified Trophy' at the 2011 New Wave Spanish Wine Awards, whilst the Antique Amontillado scooped the trophy for ‘Dry Fortified over £10’ at the 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards.

In The Vineyard Food Recommendations Grapes are sourced from Fernando de Castilla's This Palo Cortado is the perfect companion to partners vineyards in the Jerez district. The soil cured hard cheeses such as Manchego or type is Albariza. Picking takes place in early Parmesan. September. Awards & Press In The Winery NV: Wines from Spain Awards 2013 - 'Top 107' Palo Cortado is a rare variety of sherry that is Wine initially aged under flor to become a fino or amontillado, but inexplicably loses its veil of flor and NV: Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 - Bronze begins aging oxidatively as an oloroso. The result is a wine with some of the richness of oloroso and NV: IWC 2013 - Gold some of the crispness of amontillado. Only about 1- 2% of the grapes pressed for sherry naturally NV: Sommelier Wine Awards 2013 - Gold develop into palo cortado. The name means 'cut stick,' in reference to the mark made on the cask NV: Wines from Spain Awards 2012 - Top 110 when this style of wine is recognized. Since the Wines wine was originally destined to be a fino or amontillado, it will initially have had a single stroke NV: New Wave Spanish Wine Awards 2011 - Top marked on the cask. When the cellar master 116 Wines & Best Dry Fortified Trophy realises that the wine is becoming a palo cortado, he draws a cross (or cut) through the initial stroke NV: Sommelier Wine Awards 2010 - Gold list (or stick), resulting in a crossed stroke or 'cut stick' (/). At this time the wine will be fortified to about NV: Decanter World Wine Awards 2010 - 20% abv, to prevent spoilage from contact with the International Trophy for Dry Fortified over £10 air and ageing continued separately from its original solera. This sherry is on average 20 years old. NV: IWSC 2010 - Gold (Best in Class)

NV: IWC 2010 - Bronze

NV: IWSC 2009 - Gold (Best in Class)

NV: New Wave Spanish Wine Awards 2009 - Best Wine of Show Trophy & Best Dry Sherry Trophy & Top 110 Wines

NV: New Wave Spanish Wine Awards 2006 - 'Top 103' wines

NV: IWC 2004 - Silver

NV: "Honeyed quince, spicy wood and creamy aromas and a tangy palate backed by rich fruit." Judges comments, DWWA 2013

NV: "A dry piercing style, with a lovely orange blossom note that gives way quickly to sea salt, dried orange peel, walnut, bitter almond and cardamom accents. This offers a bright brisk finish. Drink now. 92 Points." James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, October 2013

NV: " ... has a clean, changing, lifted nose of white chocolate, orange marmalade, almonds and incense, while the balanced palate comes through quite intense, sharp, with good acidity and length. 93 points." Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate #208, 29th August 2013

NV: " 'An excellent example and a good match for seafood,' said Jenny Mackenzie of The Plough Inn, noting the sherry's 'elegant style, with its hints of polish, nutty complexity and tangy edge'. 'Taut, grippy and balanced, this is lovely, fragrant and supple,' said team leader Simon Woods." Sommelier Wine Awards 2013, Judges Comments

NV: "Elegant, lifted aromas of aged flor and raisin, opening onto a palate of harmony, spice and layered balance. A truly haunting and bewitching wine"; "Another year, another International Trophy for Fernando de Castilla. What a reputation this bodega is forging for itself. Last year it was its Amontillado that wowed our judges; this time around, the Palo Cortado has repeated the trick with aplomb." Judges Comments, Decanter World Wine Awards 2010

NV: "Roasted hazelnuts mix nicely with buttery vanilla notes and butterscotch. A superbly harmonious blend of caramel, salt and acidity on an intense palate. 'Spicy, nutty, rich and warm' said Gearoid Devaney." "Fernando de Castilla ....has been stunning tasters at this event for the past three years, and its haul of three Golds was testament to the brilliance of its portfolio" Sommelier Wine Awards 2010, Judges comments

NV: "Attractive spicebox and slivered almond nuances. The finish is intense and very long, with warm tree bark scents."' IWC 2004, Judges Comments

NV: "A rare style of sherry has won Best Wine of Show at this year's New Wave Spanish Wine Awards. Antique Palo Cortado from producer Fernando de Castilla was described by Peter McCombie MW as 'rich and heady with alluring complex aromas of roasted nuts, chocolate, toffee and lanolin. Gloriously rich and smooth yet quite dry'. The Palo Cortado also won a trophy for Best Dry Sherry." OLN, 3rd July 2009

NV: "is medium amber coloured, very complex aromatically, with excellent concentration and length. If you are interested in high quality, luxury Sherries, this is a good place to start. 92 points." The Wine Advocate, Issue 175, 29th February 2008