Barbadillo Manzanilla Solear Sherry Wine, 37.5 cl, Case of 6

The Barbadillo family are one of the key players in the sherry trade. From their base in the seaside city of Sanlucar de Barrameda at the very southwest tip of Spain, the family have forged a reputation as one of the best sherry producers in the world. Barbadillo was founded by Don Beningo and Don Manuel Barbadillo in 1821. It was Don Beningo's fortune, acquired through his business enterprises in Mexico, that allowed the family to purchase their first Bodega, the 'Bodega del Toro', near the 'Castello de San Diego' in the heart of the old town. In 1827 they launched their 1st brand of Manzanilla Sherry 'Pastora Davina', which is still produced by the family today. Barbadillo are famous for Manzanilla, a style of sherry unique to Sanlucar de Barrameda. The city's classic old bodegas with their high ceilings and huge circular windows are perfectly designed to capture breezes that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean. These breezes regulate temperatures and moisture within the bodegas essential for propagating 'flor', a film of yeast that floats on the surface of the wine inside the sherry butts (casks). It's this 'flor' that gives Manzanilla it's refreshing citrus character and subtle brioche and bready notes. The sea breezes also give the wines of Sanlucar wines their instantly recognisable and unique saline flavour. Today's 7th winemaking generation own 12 bodegas in Sanlucar, housing 30,000 sherry butts, many of which are fed with wines sourced from Palomino Fina grapes grown at the family's 500Ha Gilbabin and San Luisa vineyards in the Jerez Superior. They have produced some of the world's most famous Sherry brands, including 'Muy Fina' and 'Solear', the latter of which has received numerous awards, including selection as the "World's best Manzanilla 2014" by Wine Spectator. Barbadillo are also famous for old and rare Sherries. Thanks to almost two centuries of careful family stock management, Barbadillo has a very impressive collection of old wines. Some of these have been in family care for over 150 years. The 'Sacrista' cellar is home to the oldest sherry butts and the family's own private collection. These 'oenological treasures' are released in tiny parcels as 'Reliquia's' or artfully blended by winemaker Montse Molina into old "Cuco" and "VORS" wines. They have received some of the highest accolades in the wine world, regularly scoring points in the high 90s from Parker with the Palo Cortado Reliquia receiving 100 points, the only sherry ever to do so. It is from the family's private collection in the 'Sacrista Cellar' that Barbadillo have bottled the world's only luxury sherry 'Versos 1891'. Only 100 bottles have been released, all taken from a single butt of sherry laid down in 1891 for family member Don Manuel Barbadillo. Described as an old amontillado at the time this venerable old sherry was at least 125 years old when it was bottled in 2014.