Fernando de Castilla Antique Fino

Rey Fernando de Castilla is a hundred year old bodega in the centre of Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, and its Antique Fino comes from older soleras within the house. The wine is made entirely from Palomino Fino grown on the chalky albariza soils of the Jerez triangle, a white limestone that retains winter rainfall through the dry Andalusian summer and feeds the vines through ripening. After pressing, the must is fortified to around fifteen degrees, the level at which a film of flor yeast can establish itself across the surface of the wine in part filled American oak butts. This living veil seals the Fino from air, consuming oxygen and glycerine and giving the wine its hallmark breadlike, saline and nutty character while the solera system blends successive years for consistency. The colour is pale yellow with golden highlights. The nose is fresh and intense, with toasted almond, green apple, chamomile and a yeasty, doughy lift. The palate is bone dry and lively, carrying dried fruit nuances, a subtle saline thread and well balanced acidity into a prolonged finish. Serve well chilled at 7 to 9 degrees in a white wine glass.