Lustau Fino La Ina

Lustau, founded in 1896, works from three cellars across the Sherry Triangle of Jerez, El Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. La Ina is its Fino, made from Palomino grown at Viña Montegilillo on white albariza clay, a chalk soil that holds winter rain deep in the ground and reflects the sun, helping the grapes ripen evenly in a hot climate. The wine is fortified to 15 percent and aged for five years under flor in oak butts. The flor is a film of yeast that grows across the surface of the wine, sealing it from oxygen and feeding on alcohol while releasing acetaldehyde and other compounds that give Fino its sharp, saline and almond character and keep the colour pale. It pours a clear lemon yellow, with a clean, expressive nose of almond and bread dough over a saline note. The palate is dry, with toasted notes from the ageing, an intense clean body and a touch of salt, finishing long and pleasantly bitter. Serve well chilled at around 7 to 9 degrees. It suits shellfish, fried fish and salted snacks.