Fernando de Castilla Antique Palo Cortado

Rey Fernando de Castilla works from the centre of Jerez de la Frontera in Cadiz, and its Antique range is built on the bodega's oldest reserves. This Palo Cortado is a single variety Palomino Fino drawn from fourteen very old casks of over thirty years in age. Palo Cortado is the rarest of the Sherry styles, a wine that begins biological ageing under a cap of flor yeast and then loses that veil, finishing its life oxidatively in the criaderas and soleras system. The result combines the fine aromatic profile of an Amontillado with the body and weight of an Oloroso. The fruit is grown on the albariza chalk soils of the Marco de Jerez, which hold moisture through the dry summer and ripen Palomino evenly. Long oxidative ageing converts ethanol to acetaldehyde and concentrates the wine through slow evaporation. The colour is deep amber, robust and profound. The palate is velvety and buttery, with delicate hints of dried fruit and exceptionally well balanced acidity, leading to an extensive, enduring finish. Serve at around 13 to 14 degrees in a white wine glass, with game, oily fish or hard nutty cheese.