Lustau 3 en Rama Fino de El Puerto de Santa María 2026

This is the El Puerto de Santa María bottling in Lustau's set of three en rama Finos, each drawn from a different town of the Sherry triangle to show the mark of place on a single grape. The base wine is Palomino grown on albariza, the white chalk soil that holds moisture and reflects the Andalusian sun. What distinguishes El Puerto is its position on the coast at the mouth of the Guadalete: the cellars sit close to the sea, where humid Atlantic air keeps the flor yeast thick and active year round, lending the Finos here a markedly saline, fresh character. After fortification the wine ages biologically in the solera beneath that veil of flor, which consumes oxygen and acetaldehyde to keep the wine pale and add its bready, almond and saline tang. Bottled en rama, with minimal filtering, it carries more aroma and texture from the cask. Expect a pale colour, a nose of almond, sea salt, green apple and fresh dough, and a bone-dry, crisp, distinctly saline palate. Serve well chilled at around 8C in a white wine glass, from a freshly opened bottle. It is a savoury aperitif and a seafood wine.