Alvear Solera 1927, Montilla, Spain.
December 2, 2011
Grapes
100% Pedro Ximenez, (but just call it “PX” if you want to sound cool and trendy…and I know you do).
Facts
- Kind of like Port, I find Sherry-style wines more suited for chilly weather. It always reminds me of Christmas for some reason…
- Established in 1729, Alvear is one of Spain’s most prestigious and internationally acclaimed Bodegas. The family is in its eighth generation. |
- Sherry wines go through a Solera aging system. A Solera system is essentially a series of barrels that are linked, usually stacked in a pyramid form. Wine is removed from the bottom barrels, and new wine is replaced in the top, with the wine therefore being a blend of years. In this case, the oldest wine is from 1927! That’s right! 1927!!! Saying that, Alvear also make an 1830 dated Sherry.
- The grapes are hand harvested and dried on mats in the sun. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, and the wine is aged for 6 months in American oak barrels.
- Wine made in a Sherry-style usually contain anywhere from 15% to 23% alcohol……..kind of like Australian Shiraz………just kidding! Or am I!?!? :)
Region (click map for larger view)
- The Alvear 1927 is from the Montilla region of Southern Spain (shown on the map), and has a winemaking history dating back to Roman times.
- This region has a fairly predictable climate, with approximately 70 days of rainfall and almost 300 days of sun per year.
- The Montilla wine region consists of 92 vineyards (otherwise known as Bodegas), and produces around 22 million liters of wine each year.
- They’ve been making wine in Spain since around 1100 BC!!! Wine-making continued through Romans times. Distillation, however, was not introduced until around 711AD, when the Moors conquered the region, and resulted in brandy and fortified wines being developed.
- For more information on Alvear visit the website.
Taste
If you haven’t tried Sherry before, or it’s been a while, I SERIOUSLY suggest you give the Alvear 1927 a try. The nose shows deep rich nutty notes, dried prunes and brandied raisins. The palate yields all of the same, with crème brûlée and maple syrup. Very intense and well balanced, with a finish that lasts forever!
Sherry is an acquired taste for some, that’s undisputed, but the beautiful thing about Sherry is that once you’ve opened the bottle, you don’t have to worry about it going bad for quite some time.
Food Pairing
Enjoy the Alvear 1927 either at the end of a meal, or paired with a strong cheese, such as a fine aged Gouda or blue. Perfect even with a nutty-chocolate dessert. Also can be served over ice, but that seems like kind-of a waste.
Price
$26.99 – Imported by Jorge Ordonez
