Amontillado Secular Alvear

Bodegas Alvear is the leading house of Montilla-Moriles, the Andalusian region inland from Jerez where the hot, continental climate and white albero chalk soils give wines a similar character to Sherry but with extra ripeness and concentration. Amontillado Secular is a dry, oxidatively aged wine made in the traditional way. An Amontillado starts its life under a cap of flor yeast, which protects the wine from oxygen and gives a fresh, saline note, then ages oxidatively once the flor fades, slowly converting ethanol to acetaldehyde and deepening in colour and nuttiness. The wine is matured through the criaderas and soleras system, where younger wine is fractionally blended through stacked casks, so each bottle carries the average age of a long running solera and a steady house style. The colour is deep amber. The nose is dry and complex, with hazelnut, almond, walnut and dried fruit. The palate is dry, concentrated and savoury, with balanced acidity and a long finish. Serve at around 13 to 14 degrees in a white wine glass.