Fernando de Castilla Classic Oloroso

Rey Fernando de Castilla, based in the centre of Jerez de la Frontera in Cadiz, bottles its younger fortified wines under the Classic range, alongside the much older Antique wines. This Oloroso is made from Palomino Fino grown on the albariza chalk soils of the Marco de Jerez, whose white limestone holds winter rain and reflects sunlight to ripen the fruit through the hot, dry summer. The must is extracted at around 18 degrees so the wine begins to oxidise slowly, and it is fortified to a level that prevents flor yeast from forming, leaving it to age oxidatively in the criaderas and soleras system. That slow exposure to air converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, building the nutty, dried fruit character of Oloroso, while fractional blending through stacked casks keeps the house style consistent. The colour is bright mahogany. The nose has good aromatic intensity, warming and complex, with dried fruit and a lightly sweet edge. The palate is smooth and elegant, dry and flavoursome, carried by a long, persistent finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 13 to 14 degrees in a white wine glass, with roast game, mushrooms or hard cheese.