Agostado Palo Cortado 2021

Agostado Palo Cortado is a fortified wine from Cota 45, the Sanlúcar de Barrameda project of Cádiz winemaker Ramiro Ibáñez, who works from a former shipyard at Bajo Guía opposite the Doñana reserve. He blends the region's traditional grapes, Palomino with the near-forgotten Perruna and Rey de Trebujena, aiming to show the character of each vineyard and the local albariza soils. Palo Cortado is the rare sherry that begins life as a Fino and turns toward Amontillado. This wine spends four months under a cape of flor, gaining saline, bready freshness, before the veil is set aside and it passes 22 months in oxidative ageing, where slow contact with air through the cask builds walnut, dried-herb and nutty complexity while keeping a fine, saline cut. The result sits between the delicacy of a Fino nose and the depth of an Amontillado palate. Expect a pale to amber colour, a saline and almond-led aroma, and a dry, structured, savoury palate with real length. Serve lightly cool at 12 to 14 degrees in a tulip glass.