Solera

The unique yeast that grows on top of the sherry protecting it from oxidation.

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Spanish term. A method of perpetually ageing wine in a “pyramid” of barrels. Wine for bottling drawn from the bottom layer. The barrels from this layer, are then topped from the next layer up, and so on until the top layer is reached. This layer is topped by fresh wine made that year. The barrels are typically left 5/6ths full. Each layer in a Solera is called a Criadera, or layers. Fino sherries will have 7 criadera, Manzanilla at least 9 and up to 20. Practically, wineries, simply place them in batches representing a criardera rather than building actual solera stacks. The image below shows the basics of how the system works.

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Artuke 'El Escolladero' Rioja Tinto 2021
The flow, harmony, fine long fruit and acid entranced. An edgy grip works well in a cleansing way. Super juicy, fine, refreshing with so much energy, vibrant and long. This will settle into something delicious. Savoury, meaty play going on, building into some forest floor. Tightly wound with plenty more to come. This is well worth having a look at, a demonstration of the new Rioja!El Escolladero is a vineyard planted in 1950 in the village of Ábalos at 660 meters in altitude. As with mo
$181
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Francesco Versio Barbaresco 2019
Superb! Bravi Francesco!🍷

Francesco Versio Barbaresco 2019

Nebbiolo | Neive, Barbaresco

The 'Side Project' of ex-Bruno Giacosa's winemaker Francesco Versio this is a stunner! The Francesco Versio 2019 Barbaresco is delicate and fine, almost fragile, with iris root, rusty nail, cassis and licorice root. The wine is carefully balanced to show the intensity of the grape, yet its aromatic profile is carefully measured and contained overall. This is an exciting wine with impeccable winemaking.Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate 95 PointsA Neive village blend of San Cristoforo, Curr
$180
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Joh Jos Prüm Bernkastler Lay Auslese Riesling GOLDKAPSEL 2022
The 2022er Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese GK was made from shriveled rather than botrytized fruit and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a beautifully restrained and almost non-saying nose at first, yet quickly shows superbly complex and captivating notes of fine exotic elements (mango, guava, passion fruit), smoke, whipped almond cream, yellow flowers, orange blossom, acacia, and cassis. The wine proves superbly refined and elegant on the layered and compar
$319
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Cascina Fontana Barolo 2016

Cascina Fontana Barolo 2016

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo

Undoubtedly the best Fontana Barolo Classico I’ve had! Brooding yet open - perhaps explained by the mix of Castiglione Falletto (brooding) and La Morra (open) fruit.Undoubtedly the best Fontana Barolo Classico I’ve had. A little sappy, resinous (in a nice way)  layer of tannin combines with ripe even line of nutty tannin, fruit comes, building through the mid palate and lingers. This just needs time. It has that Castiglione Falleto youthful brooding nature to it. Give it a couple of yea
$175
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