La Bota Nº.113 de Manzanilla Navazos

La Bota No. 113 de Manzanilla Navazos is a selection bottled by Equipo Navazos, the project led by Eduardo Ojeda and Jesus Barquin, drawn from soleras in Sanlucar de Barrameda. The wine is made from Palomino grown on the chalk-rich albariza soils of the Jerez region, pale soils that retain winter rain and reflect sunlight, helping the vines through the dry summer. After fermentation the base wine is fortified to around 15 percent and aged in the criaderas and soleras system, here for around seven years under a veil of flor. This living film of yeast seals the wine from air, consumes glycerine and oxygen, and releases compounds that give the bone-dry, saline, yeasty character of true Manzanilla, the Atlantic humidity of Sanlucar keeping the flor active for longer than inland Jerez. The colour is pale gold. The nose is complex, with almond, chamomile and fresh bread dough over a marine, briny edge. The palate is dry and incisive, with a savoury, umami depth and a long saline finish. Serve well chilled at around 7 to 9 degrees in a white wine glass.