Tío Pepe Amontillado Cuatro Palmas 2024

Cuatro Palmas is the top stage of the Palmas collection from Bodegas Tio Pepe in Jerez, and despite the Fino-style naming it is a very old Amontillado, with an average age of around 52 years. It is made from Palomino grown on the chalky albariza soils of the Jerez region, pale soils that retain winter rain and reflect light to ripen the fruit through the dry summer. The wine begins life under flor as a Fino, then, once the yeast veil dies back, ages oxidatively in cask for decades, fortified to a higher strength of around 21 percent. This long oxidative maturation in the solera system concentrates the wine and develops the deep nutty, dried-fruit character of fine Amontillado, while a saline thread from the original flor ageing remains. Only 500 half bottles were released. The colour is deep amber. The nose is intense and layered, with walnut and toasted nuts, toffee, dried apricot and a savoury, tobacco-edged depth. The palate is bone dry, powerful and concentrated, with a very long saline, nutty finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 13 to 14 degrees in a white wine glass.