San León Manzanilla [Fortified]
Producer: Argüeso
Region: DO Jerez-Xéres-Sherry, Manzanilla

100% palomino, nurtured in a "solera" in Sanlúcar that dates from 1822. The average age of the bottled wine is 6 years. A classic manzanilla sherry.

Golden straw color with scents of "flor": almonds & hazlenuts & the saline seaside aromas, typical of a manzanilla.
Bone dry, fresh & bright on the palate with a hint of chalky minerals, saline with good persistence and a touch of yeasty bread & beeswax. Very good.

In recent years, San León shows a bit of natural color. A sign that they've abandoned the once common practice of charcoal filtering which makes for a crystal clear, almost transparent wine, but strips away much of the character and flavor. Good news.

[$L]
29 May 2021