Barbadillo Criadera Selection Amontillado En Rama Mil Pesetas Cellar

Additional information

Origin	Jerez, Spain
Main grapes	Palomino Fino
Other grapes	Not Blend
Vintage	NV
Bottle sizes	75cl

Description

Barbadillo Criadera Selection Amontillado En Rama is an elegant, dry Amontillado Sherry which is bottled unfiltered (En Rama). The Sherry is sourced from Barbadillo’s criaderas in their Mil Pesetas Cellar in the historic neighbourhood of San Blas in Sanlucar de Barrameda, one of the three towns in the “Sherry Triangle”.

Barbadillo is one of the ten largest and oldest family businesses in Spain. The company’s origins can be traced back to 1821 when Don Benigno Barbadillo and Don Manuel Lopez Barbadillo settled in Sanlucar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz. They would release their first wine the Manzanilla Divina Pastor in 1827. The Bodegas Barbadillo Company was eventually established in 1954 and today is one of the largest and most respected Sherry, and Spanish Brandy, producers. They are widely regarded as one of the very best producers of Manzanilla Sherries, the salty, tangy Fino-style Sherries produced in Sanlucar de Barrameda. Today, the company exports to over 50 countries and has won numerous awards for quality and innovation in winemaking.

As mentioned above, this wine comes from the company’s Mil Pesetas Cellars, one of many cellars owned by the company and located in their complex of buildings. The renovated Mudejar-style cellar was used for the ageing of Amontillado from 1920 onwards.

Barbadillo Criadera Selection Amontillado En Rama is made from 100% Palomino Fino grapes. The grapes are sourced from the Gibalbín and Santa Lucía vineyards in the Jerez Superior region. The vineyards have a specific microclimate and are located inland on a site that promotes the proper ripening of the grapes. The vines have an average age of 20 years old and are planted on the famous white, chalky soils of the region known as Albariza.

After harvest, the Palomino grapes are pressed and the juice is fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures. After fermentation, the young wine is fortified by adding neutral grape spirit to increase the alcohol content to around 15%. The wine is put into 500 litre Jerez casks and then enters the Criaderas and Solera ageing system, a fractional ageing process used to make Sherry, which allows for the traditional blending of new wines with older wines.

Barbadillo Criadera Selection Amontillado En Rama undergoes both biological and oxidative ageing. The wine begins life as a Fino Sherry. It is fortified to around 15.5% ABV and a cap of flor yeast develops under which the wine begins its biological ageing. The wine then becomes an Amontillado if the flor fails to develop adequately, is intentionally killed by additional fortification, or is allowed to die off through non-replenishment. After this, the wine is fortified again to around 17.5% and then slowly oxidised. This oxidative ageing process produces a richer, darker style of Sherry compared to Fino for example. Bottled at 19% ABV.

Tasting Notes

This captivating Sherry has a deep amber hue and intense, layered aromas. There are prominent notes of almonds, hazelnuts, dried figs, dates, and a touch of spice, alongside a subtle yeasty character and a distinct saline quality. The palate is dry and complex, echoing the aromas with dominant nutty flavours, dried fruit notes, and pronounced salinity, all balanced by high acidity and a pleasant bitterness on the long finish. A powerful and complex Amontillado.

Food Pairing

Barbadillo Criadera Selection Oloroso En Rama should be served lightly chilled in white wine glasses.

Try with tapas and mixed nuts. Try with Iberico ham or Manchego.

It also pairs well with smoked fish and fish dishes.

WineWiki

What Is En Rama?

En Rama translated literally as “on the branch” or “raw”. It is used to denote Sherry that is bottled straight from the cask, unfiltered and unrefined. Actually, En Rama is very lightly filtered.

En Rama was created in the early 2000s as a reaction to the commercialisation of Sherry. It is said to be reminder of how the wines used to be before the wines, especially Fino and Manzanilla, were heavily filtered.

It is said that this gives the wine more body and complexity and leaves more colour and flavour in the wines.