La Guita, Palomino "Manzanilla" Sherry, Spain 375mL

Founded in 1825, La Guita produces Spain's most popular Manzanilla from their historic bodegas, including the iconic Bodega Misericordia dating to 1526 and once home to the Hospital de San Juan de Dios. Aged under highly active flor for four and a half years, La Guita develops intense complexity while retaining beautiful freshness. They bottle six times a year, as opposed to once or twice as many other houses, to capture as much freshness as possible. While legally allowed to source grapes from anywhere in Jerez, they focus exclusively on grapes from Sanlúcar – specifically from the Miraflores vineyard. The Palomino grapes used in La Guita are exclusively grown in Sancular, with the vast majority of them coming from the historic pago of Miraflores.

Tasting Notes

A dazzling lemon-gold in color, La Guita Manzanilla is clean and fresh on the nose displaying aromas of glazed fruit, wild herbs and toasted almonds. Unique aromas of dried apples, lemon blossom, almonds and cream. Hints of seaweed. Full-bodied, yet focused and tight with lively acidity and a beautifully composed finish of fruit and flavor. The proximity of the sea causes the flor to grow even thicker here, resulting in a very dry Sherry that has a distinctive briny, almost saline note. This delicate Manzanilla displays a pretty nose of beachfront and oyster shells, followed by a subdued palate. The deceptively sheer palate leads to a fine finish.

Pairs With

Tapas and seafood, grilled oysters, fried anchovies, octopus, Serrano ham, sardines, shellfish and sushi

Ratings

94 pts James Suckling