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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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Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru V.P. Base 2015 NV
84 Months on Lees

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru V.P. Base 2015 NV

Blend | Verzenay, Ambonnay

V.P. = Viellissement Prolongé = Prolonged ageing on lees! The V.P. stands for Vieillissement Prolongé (prolonged ageing), as the wine spends so long on lees, in this case 84 months. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, the fruit comes from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay--all great Grand Cru terroirs. Vinification and élevage is in oak casks, with the dosage being a tiny 2g/l, so seriously Extra Brut.The power of the fruit, plus the extended lees ageing grants such harmony, so much
$415
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Domaine Thibert Pouilly-Fuissé 'Menetieres' 2018

Domaine Thibert Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Menetieres’ 2018

Chardonnay | Pouilly-Fuisse, France

To be labelled 1er Cru from the 2020 Vintage! “The 2018 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Ménétrières unwinds in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, lemon curd, freshly baked bread and anise. Full-bodied, layered and sensual, it's textural and enveloping, with a deep core of fruit, racy acids and a long, precise finish. Stupidly, this part of Les Ménétrières was denied the premier cru classification, so this is the antepenultimate vintage under this name. 2025 - 2040”
$148
$143ea in any 3+
$138ea in any 6+
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Luigi Pira Barolo 'Marenca' 2017

Luigi Pira Barolo ‘Marenca’ 2017

Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Italy

Classic south/south-west exposure. The only difference in the vinification process is the oak maturation. Around 50% goes into large-format aged botti and the remainder in tonneaux, partially new (1 year in tonneaux and 1 year in large botti). ‘Marenca’ is only offered as a cru Barolo by Pira – the other owner, Angelo Gaja, use theirs (along with their ‘Margheria’) in Barolo ‘Sperss’. The nose is fresh, with complex aromas that range from wild berries to dark chocolate and dried he
$150
$145ea in any 3+
$140ea in any 6+
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Àlvaro Palacios 'Finca Dolfi' MAGNUM 2021
I had the pleasure of devouring the 2016 about 18 months ago over an aged scotch fillet with a friend. A wine of presence and importance. Along with the other Priorats I've had from Àlvaro it's clear he's got it right in both the vineyard and the winery. After all, to make a wine like the legendary L'Ermita you need mad skills!Even just after landing in the country when wines are a little out of sorts from shipping across the world, the perfume builds in the glass with all the trademark
Original price was: $765.Current price is: $695.
$675ea in any 3+
$655ea in any 6+
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