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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Luigi Pira Barolo 'Margheria' 2020

Luigi Pira Barolo ‘Margheria’ 2020

Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo

All south-facing and sitting at 340 metres, vinification is the same as the Barolo ‘Serralunga’. Intense and complex nose with notes of fruit and flowers and hints of leather and fresh hay, while on the palate it’s perfectly knit and very distinctive, red fruited in style with ironstone, choc-cherry, roses and some of the darker notes of cola and porcini, along with textural red plum-skin, grippy, black-tea tannins that underpin, but it’s still generous and very approachable now.
$177
$170ea in any 3+
$163ea in any 6+
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Domaine de Montille Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Aux Malconsorts' MAGNUM 2022
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, once again the nose is overtly floral in character with its exuberantly spicy nose of various dark berries, soy, exotic tea and sandalwood. The sleek, intense and delineated flavors are at once refined yet powerful with a taut muscularity becoming more apparent on the dusty, youthfully austere and stony finish that is compact and very serious. Patience. (from a .97 ha holding; 80% whole clusters). Drink: 2034+ ♥ Don’t miss! OutstandingAllen
$2,485
$2465ea in any 3+
$2445ea in any 6+
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Vietti Barolo 'Brunate' 2017

Vietti Barolo ‘Brunate’ 2017

Nebbiolo | La Morra, Italy

The 2017 Barolo Brunate is a powerful, brooding wine. Huge dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol and dried herbs all build in a potent Barolo that is enshrouded by tannins. The 2017 is going to need quite a bit of time in the cellar. Today, it is very much a brooding powerhouse. Dark wild cherry, licorice, tar, menthol and spice take shape in the glass, but the 2017 is clearly an infant, and an unruly one at that. Drink 2025 - 2042 Galloni
$440
$430ea in any 3+
$420ea in any 6+
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Benjamin Leroux Pommard 1er Cru 'Rugiens-Haut' 2018
Ben does such a great job in the Côtes-de-Beaune. There's a certain harmony that comes across in the reds he makes here. It makes sense given his familiarity with the region following his time at Comte-Armand. He talks of his efforts to shift the styles of the Pommards from rustic and super tannic to more perfumed and supple. He's succeeded in achieving that with the Pommards not only at Comte-Armand, but, at his own Domaine too!The 1er Cru Rugiens-Hauts is an impeccable site
$425
$410ea in any 3+
$395ea in any 6+
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