Antique Cortado Palo

Originating from the prestigious Andalusian region of Jerez de la Frontera, this Palo Cortado Antique from the Fernando de Castilla estate comes from vineyards located around the Sherry Triangle, between Jerez, El Puerto de Santa María, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. These plots benefit from albariza soils rich in limestone, renowned for their ability to retain moisture and concentrate aromas. The Mediterranean-oceanic climate, marked by the influence of the Atlantic, promotes a slow and balanced ripening of the Palomino Fino grapes.

At the Fernando de Castilla estate, Palo Cortado Antique is made from Palomino Fino grapes harvested in the Jerez region, then vinified as a dry base wine before fortification. The wine is then aged for an extended period in oak barrels according to the traditional solera and criaderas system, where it develops both the aromatic finesse of Amontillados and the structure of Oloroso, reaching great complexity before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of walnut , toasted almond , and candied orange peel , complemented by hints of caramel , vanilla , and fine wood , as well as saline and mineral nuances. The palate is dry, full-bodied, and remarkably persistent, with a silky texture, lively acidity that balances the oxidative richness, great aromatic concentration, and a long, slightly saline and spicy finish.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.