Toro Albalá Poley Palo Cortado en Rama Solera 25 Años

Palo Cortado is the rarest of the dry styles, a wine that begins like a Fino under flor and then, when the flor breaks, takes on the oxidative depth of an Oloroso, keeping the fine nose of one and the body of the other. This Poley en Rama comes from Toro de Albalá in Montilla-Moriles, in the province of Córdoba, bottled unfiltered with an average of twenty-five years in cask. It is built from Pedro Ximénez grown on albero chalk under the hot Córdoba sun, fortified to around 17 percent. After the biological phase ends the wine ages oxidatively for years, as slow air contact converts ethanol into acetaldehyde and concentration deepens the colour and the nutty character, all held to a house style through the criaderas and soleras. It pours deep amber, with aromas of hazelnut and bitter orange over fine wood. The palate is dry and moderately complex, concentrated and warm from the alcohol, with roasted nuts and a long savoury finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 13 to 14 degrees in a white wine glass. It suits hard cheeses and rich savoury dishes.