Bodegas Lustau, 3 En Rama, Fino, El Puerto de Santa María, Spain (2022 Release)
About this WINE
Bodegas Emilio Lustau
Emilio Lustau was established in 1896 and was initially a small family concern until the founder`s son-in-law placed it on a business footing.
The firm is perhaps best known as pioneering the Almacenista system, whereby individual dry sherries are produced from small private holdings. These are bottled under Lustau`s name but with the individual bodega's name on the label as well. Today they are amongst the most sought-out Sherries in the region.
The firm also produces superb wines from its recently acquired 170 hectare Montenegrillo vineyard.
Fino Sherry
Fino Sherry is a unique and renowned style of Sherry originating from the Jerez region in Andalusia, Spain. Its light, delicate character and crisp, refreshing qualities set it apart, making it one of the most intriguing and widely enjoyed types of Sherry. Crafted primarily from the Palomino grape, Fino undergoes a unique ageing process that distinguishes it from other Sherry styles, resulting in its distinctive flavour profile and elegant appearance.
The production of Fino Sherry begins with the fermentation of Palomino grapes, known for their high acidity and neutral flavour. Unlike richer Sherries such as Oloroso Sherry or Pedro Ximénez (PX), Fino is aged exclusively under a layer of flor yeast. This delicate yeast layer forms naturally in the ageing barrels and protects the wine from oxidation. The flor preserves the wine's freshness and imparts subtle aromatic complexities, contributing to Fino's signature lightness and nuanced flavours.
Fino Sherry boasts a pale straw to light gold colour, reflecting its youthful and vibrant nature. Its fresh and floral aroma often exhibits notes of green almonds, freshly cut grass, and a hint of saline minerality, underscoring its maritime influence. Fino is exceptionally dry and crisp on the palate, with a clean acidity that enhances its refreshing qualities. The flavour profile is characterised by subtle hints of citrus, green apple, and a delicate nuttiness, all harmoniously balanced to create a sophisticated and elegant wine experience.
Ageing is a critical aspect of Fino Sherry's development. Typically matured in the Solera system, Fino benefits from continuous blending with younger wines, ensuring consistency and maintaining its characteristic freshness over time. The enduring popularity of Fino among Sherry enthusiasts is a testament to its quality and unique characteristics. The flor yeast remains active throughout the ageing process, continually influencing the wine's development and preventing it from becoming oxidised. This meticulous ageing method allows Fino to retain its lively acidity and delicate flavours, making it an enduring favourite among Sherry enthusiasts.
When it comes to food pairings, Fino Sherry is exceptionally versatile. Its crisp and dry profile makes it an ideal companion for various dishes, particularly seafood and shellfish such as oysters, prawns, and sushi. It also complements light tapas, including olives, almonds, and fresh cheeses like Manchego. Fino's refreshing acidity and subtle complexity make it a delightful aperitif, perfect for starting a meal or enjoying alongside light appetisers. Served well chilled at around 8-10°C (46-50°F).
Palomino Fino
Palomino, named after Fernan Yanez Palomonio, one of King Alfonso X`s knights, is the primary grape variety for Sherry styles (Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado) production.
It is a high yielding variety that is widely planted in Spain producing mostly insipid thin, dull wines lacking in fruit and acidity. However it thrives on the predominantly chalk based soils of Cadiz where it produces large bunches of golden yellow grapes, which ripen in early September. The resulting must is transparent in colour and somewhat neutral in flavour, but the subsequent wine can develop a coating of flor before maturing in the solera system and produce a whole range of intense and aromatic sherries.
It is also grown in South Africa, California, and Australia where it is fortified to make sherry-style wines.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee