Tuesday 12 March 2013

Amontillado Very Old Don Jose Maria 20%, Vinicola Soto

Appearance
Quite deep amber to mahogany through yellow to trace green at rim, legs.
Nose
Full, toasted hazelnuts, dried fruits, very slightly savoury, traces caramel, walnut, sweetness, more slightly commercial Palo Cortado than old Amontillado, definite Oloroso notes, some age though - maybe 10-15 years.
Palate
Full bodied, dry, has the hazelnutty Amontillado character, but the weight of Oloroso, quite strong too. Not the most subtle of wines, looks like some blending has been going on ... perfectly pleasant though.
Comments
According to the back label, this wine comes from the oldest and noblest soleras. Since the Rumasa take-over of Jose de Soto, many different labels have appeared and muddied the waters. For example the famous Garvey Manzanilla La Lidia is now in the De Soto stable in a tall wine bottle!! This wine is not mentioned in the Soto website, and I suspect it is named after Jose Maria Ruiz Mateos, and not any of the de Soto family. It appears to be a blend of various soleras, it is a bit odd, and seems stronger than likely. Still, it is cheap- surprisingly so - and as such, I suppose, very good value. (could have been a bin-end)
Price
£8.50 from Raeburn Fine Wines, Edinburgh.



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