Equipo Navazos La Bota 121 Palo Cortado "Navazos"

Tasting Note: La Bota No 121 Palo Cortado Navazos presents a complex and layered profile. The nose opens with notes of toasted almonds and hints of dried fruits, alongside a subtle saline edge reminiscent of its coastal origins. The palate reveals a sophisticated interplay of flavors, showcasing mature sherry characteristics with an emphasis on umami and earthy tones. A slightly bitter finish reinforces the wine’s depth, making it contemplative.

Country: Spain  Region: Sanlucar de Barrameda
ABV: 18.5%   Bottle Size: 750ml  Natural: Yes   

Additional Information: 
Made entirely from a single harvest in an old vineyard (two adjacent vines, one over 50 years old and the other over 80), this is a young and extremely fine Palo Cortado, the product of a selection of the best of the 2010 harvest at Pago Miraflores La Baja, the same area from which all La Bota de Florpower vintages come in their white wine, Manzanilla, and Palo Cortado versions. Aged in sherry butts and Bordeaux barrels filled to the brim to prevent excessive oxidation. For this saca, we opted for the balance and delicacy of several 225-liter barrels, sister to those that gave rise to the 75th edition.

This is a fundamentally oxidative wine, with only a very slight, natural and almost inevitable exposure to biological aging in the tanks where the must awaited fortification at 17.5% ABV for transfer to the aging casks. It was exciting to see that, even in the near absence of a veil of flor, the characteristic minerality of the coastal vineyards of Sanlúcar is conveyed in this wine through an organoleptic profile reminiscent of other wines from the same origin, such as the various Sanlúcar editions of La Bota de Amontillado, La Bota de Florpower, and La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada.

For a Palo Cortado, its alcohol content is very moderate, slightly above 18%. The alcohol content is also perfectly integrated, and it certainly wouldn't be easy to guess it blind. A very drinkable and refreshing wine, complex and long-lasting at the same time; probably the best imaginable pairing for a long list of Eastern dishes, from India to Japan, with a special focus on Southeast Asia. A truly delightful wine.