Wednesday 7 November 2012

Manzanilla Pasada Pastrana 15%,Hidalgo La Gitana

Appearance
Pale to mid strawy gold, slightest trace brass tinged with faint green, legs.
Nose
Typical manzanilla pasada - complex and interesting, strong flor notes; saline, dry, with hints of dried flowers and scrubland under the Andalucian sun, resin, slight autolysis and sourdough. There is also a slight trace of dried fruit and nuts. It is quite tight and very clean  and fresh with lots of character.
Palate
Fairly low acidity but still fresh and tangy, quite light, but the depth is in the flavour, very much as above. It is fairly soft but has great presence, with a long, very slightly bitter finish. Very elegant.
Comments
From a single vineyard, "Pastrana" in the Jerez Superior area of Miraflores and aged in the Bodega San Francisco with 31 solera butts. This wine was conceived by Javier Hidalgo and his old friend Cristiano van Zeller (of Quinta do Noval Port fame) as recently as 1997. They tried endless wines and came up with this one, (and an old amontillado) and it's a cracker. From the label you would think it had been around for years. The bottle has changed since this Majestic photo was taken, and is now the same more elegant style as La Gitana with more sloping shoulders and a low, nipped-in waist.
Price
Majestic have it on offer just now at £9.99 (UK RRP £12.99) - worth every penny. I bought two - you can never have too much Sherry!


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