Fernando de Castilla Antique Oloroso

Rey Fernando de Castilla is a Jerez house, based in the centre of Jerez de la Frontera in Cadiz, whose Antique range draws on old wines from the bodega's oldest vintages. This Oloroso is made entirely from Palomino Fino grown on the albariza chalk soils of the Marco de Jerez, where the white limestone holds winter rain and reflects sunlight to ripen the fruit evenly. The wine is fortified at higher strength so that the flor yeast cannot survive, leaving it to age oxidatively. Around thirty years in the criaderas and soleras system, where younger wine is fractionally blended through stacked casks, slowly concentrates the wine and converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, building the nutty, dried fruit character that marks aged Oloroso. The colour is dark chestnut with coppery highlights. The nose shows good intensity, with citrus fruit lifted by dried fruit and walnut. The palate has a rich, full entry that turns dry, carried by well balanced acidity into a long, persistent finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 13 to 14 degrees in a white wine glass. It suits roast game, mushroom dishes and aged hard cheese.