NV Fernando de Castilla Antique Collection Case
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Tasting notes
100% Palomino. Fermented in stainless-steel vats, then fortified up to 20% vol. Oxidative ageing in criadera and solera system for more than 30 years. 4,000 bottles. This is so marked by age and wood that it almost seems like an old brandy, but is extremely sharp and deep. It has toast and caramel to a maximum aromatic concentration and depth. A saline profile with a touch of seaweed. Classy! Great! It is all elegance without being pungent. Great expressiveness and integration of alcohol. A finish with roasted nut, orange peel and candied-fruit flavours. (FC)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
30 years old. Mid orangey gold. Rather occluded nose. Extremely savoury and vigorous on the palate. Just the right side of too concentrated. Extremely intense. Feels as though it should be dripped on to the tongue with a pipette. A bit like liquid camembert. (JR)
Antique solera moved once a year and only a small amount is moved – sometimes only 10% or a bit more. Toffeed-fruit sweetness on the nose but tastes bone dry. With tangy apricots reduced right down. Very pointed wine, unexpectedly juicy but with a sharp focus in the middle of the rounded silky texture thanks to a touch of residual sugar (not consumed because of the shorter time under flor). Tangy bitter-orange finish. Super-complex and almost sharp in that tangy flavour, showing the Fino character in the salty aftertaste. (JH)
Average age 30 and from a single solera. Light burnt umber colour. A mix of smoke, nuts and burnt caramel on the nose. So deep and rich in aroma. Bone dry, as palo cortado is best, in my opinion. Tangy and lifted on the palate and finishes fresh even with all this intensity. So long and so fresh. Elegant and intense. (JH)