Equipo Navazos - La Bota de Fino 124, Sherry, Montilla-Moriles, Spain (NV)

TASTING NOTES

Chalky, olive brine, almonds, bready and characteristically salty...but this fino is on its first steps toward becoming an Amontillado...it is getting walnut-y. Deep and elegant.

A wine traditionally labeled by winemakers and connoisseurs as Fino Amontillado—no matter how unfavourable the current legislation seems to be toward this ancient category. 

Sourced from the oldest fino solera in Pérez Barquero’s Bodega Los Amigos: a total of 63 butts located in third row, of which twelve were chosen to represent the current state of the solera.

Despite its ~ 15 years of age, there was still a fragile layer of flor that was weakened and partly torn into patches. Taken from the casks and bottled in November 2023, unfined and virtually unfiltered.

Equipo Navazos are both turning to tradition and revolutionizing the world of sherry. The innovative project launched jointly by Eduardo Ojeda and Jesús Barquín in 2005 to bring to light great traditional Andalusian wines that have been guarded and forgotten for years in many wineries in the area.

Ojeda is technical director of Grupo Estévez, with brands such as La Guita, Valdespino and Real Tesoro, and Barquín is a trained lawyer and professor of criminology at the University of Granada.