Manzanilla Argüeso San León Reserva de la Familia

Bodegas Argüeso, founded in 1822, ages this Manzanilla in its historic cellars in the centre of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir. Manzanilla is a Palomino wine grown on the chalk-white albariza soils of the Jerez region, fortified to 15% and aged under flor, a living veil of yeast that forms on the wine's surface. Sanlúcar's cool, humid Atlantic air keeps the flor thick and active year round, which gives Manzanilla its particular freshness and salinity against the warmer cellars inland. This San León Reserva de la Familia spends around twelve years under flor in the solera system, far longer than a standard Manzanilla. Over that time the yeast consumes glycerol and oxygen, leaving the wine bone dry, while autolysis of the spent yeast cells builds bready, nutty depth. The colour is pale gold. The nose is intense, with prevailing yeast, chamomile and a sharp saline lift. The palate is ample, complex and completely dry, with almond, green apple, brine and a long, taut finish. Serve well chilled at 7 to 9 degrees. It is built for olives, almonds and fried fish.