Forget the sickly sweet stuff that the previous generation was drinking - this wonderful fortified wine from Southern Spain is making a big comeback! Bone dry, with plenty of freshness and a salty finish, Fino and Manzanilla are the perfect pairing to our Queensland tropical summer and fresh seafood. Want something a bit bolder? Amontillado or Oloroso, with their notes of roasted nuts, cigar box and spice, are the perfect match for cheese and charcuterie (try Iberico ham, almonds, Manchego and green olives for a heavenly delight). Finally, for a meditative experience, give the Palo Cortado a go - it will transport you to a balmy afternoon in Cadiz, sampling the local tapas and drinking Sherry...
Now that we've got you hooked, we can tell you about one of Spain's most venerable Bodega - Lustau. Steeped in tradition, these Sherry masters have been producing impeccable wines since the late 19th Century, so we were quite excited to be able to get our hands on the limited bottlings we are offering today, and we urge you to give them a chance to impress you with their elegance and fragrance!
2021 Manzanilla de Sanlucar En Rama 500mL- $39 per bottle ; $45 RRP
Technically not a Sherry per se, but made the same way, the only difference being provenance. Manzanilla is located closer to the sea, so the resulting wines are often saltier. En Rama means that the wine was taken straight from the cask to be bottled, no filtering or fining - it's the purest expression of these wines.
Lemon yellow color with golden reflections. Fresh, briny and pungent on the nose. Notes of chamomile, fennel and roasted almonds are laced with subtle, delicate soy and herbaceous nuances. Light and crisp on the palate, showing a bitter and nutty aftertaste.
Manzanilla Pasada De Sanlucar Almacenista Manuel Cuevas Jurado 500mL - $58 per bottle ; $65 RRP
Technically not a Sherry per se, but made the same way, the only difference being provenance. Manzanilla is located closer to the sea, so the resulting wines are often saltier. Almacenistas are small family farms that don't have the license to sell or export their wines directly - that's when Lustau jumps in and selects the best casks to bottle and sell. These are small, artisan, expression of the wine and prized amongst connoisseurs.
The Solera of this Manzanilla Pasada consists of 80 casks, which are aged in Manuel Cuevas Jurado’s bodegas in “Calle Trabajadero” (Trabajadero St.) in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Pale straw colour, this Manzanilla Pasada is delightfully aromatic with reminiscences of green apples and the characteristic hint of sea breeze. Dry, fresh and light, yet with a good body and a refreshing acidity.
2021 Fino de el Puerto En Rama 500mL - $39 per bottle ; $45 RRP
This is the perfect entry point to discover Sherry - beautifully crisp and not too oxidative, this behaves more like a 'normal' glass of white wine. En Rama means that the wine was taken straight from the cask to be bottled, no filtering or fining - it's the purest expression of these wines.
Aged following a biological aging in the cool and humid air of the port town of El Puerto de Santa María, where the flor grows in ideal environmental conditions. Pale straw colour, dry, light and smooth. This Fino is laced with scents of the sea and profound “flor” aromas. Clean and fresh, with a slight taste of tangy yeast. Spring 2021: Intense yellow color with golden hues. Very pungent and lively with notes reminiscent of the Atlantic breeze, roasted almonds, and hay.
2021 Fino de Jerez En Rama 500mL - $58 per bottle ; $45 RRP
Saltier and tangy-er than the el Puerto, this wine is the perfect example of what Fino is all about - fresh, round, mineral and a touch of good funk. En Rama means that the wine was taken straight from the cask to be bottled, no filtering or fining - it's the purest expression of these wines.
The inland climate in the town of Jerez de la Frontera has an important influence in the development of the Finos from this area. Its long, hot summers and mild but wet winters provide a more rounded and fuller style of wine. This Fino, aged under “flor” in American oak casks for five years, was selected for its finesse and bottled without any treatment. Spring 2021: Intense golden color with amber reflections. Pungent and intense on the nose. Yeast, white bread, chalk and butter nuances.
Amontillado Del Puerto Almacenista Jose Luis Gonzalez Obregon 500mL - $58 per bottle ; $65 RRP
Amontillado is richer and heavier than fino and has the unique characteristic of having a dual ageing process - first under flor, then completely oxidative. The resulting wines are complex and beguiling. Almacenistas are small family farms that don't have the license to sell or export their wines directly - that's when Lustau jumps in and selects the best casks to bottle and sell. These are small, artisan, expression of the wine and prized amongst connoisseurs.
Tawny gold colour. Complex and elegant, this classic Amontillado is pungent and aromatic, with fine notes of oak. Nutty on the palate with a hint of sweetness and a lingering, dry finish. The Solera of this Amontillado consists of 10 casks which are aged in José Luis González Obregón’s bodegas in El Puerto de Santa María.
Oloroso Pata De Gallina Almacenista Juan Garcia Jarana 500mL - $58 per bottle ; $65 RRP
Oloroso is entirely aged under oxidative conditions and without the influence of flor, then left to mature in butts for a very long time. Powerful and complex, the resulting wines are often nutty, leathery and spicy. Almacenistas are small family farms that don't have the license to sell or export their wines directly - that's when Lustau jumps in and selects the best casks to bottle and sell. These are small, artisan, expression of the wine and prized amongst connoisseurs.
Its exclusive Solera has only 38 casks. Aged in the charming bodega “El Aljibe” in Jerez de la Frontera. “Pata de Gallina” is the name for wines that display an above average richness and smoothness, due to high levels of glycerol. Dark gold in colour, with aromas of dried fruits and pipe tobacco. Very concentrated, with a powerful intensity on the palate and a slightly sweet finish, found in the oldest soleras of Oloroso sherries.
Palo Cortado De Jerez Almacenista Cayetano Del Pino Y Cia 500mL- $99 per bottle ; $115 RRP
The most mysterious and elegant of Sherries, Palo Cortado combines the roundness of Oloroso with the subtleties of Amontillado, truly a meditative wine! Almacenistas are small family farms that don't have the license to sell or export their wines directly - that's when Lustau jumps in and selects the best casks to bottle and sell. These are small, artisan, expression of the wine and prized amongst connoisseurs.
The Solera of this Palo Cortado comprises only 22 casks and it's aged in the winery that Cayetano del Pino owns in Jerez de la Frontera. Old gold in color with amber reflections. Very bright and clean. A delicate yet pungent nose, with almond-like aromas that remind of its biological aging phase. Velvety and round on the palate. Surprisingly glyceric. Its endless aftertaste has a comforting bitterness that leaves the palate clean and ready for more.
To purchase the products in today's offer, please use the links above phone us on (07) 3252 1117, or email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au - Prices valid until stock runs out or until the 7th of February 2022.