SPRING VIP 2021
SPRING VIP 2021 LUSTAU TAKEOVER
Sign up until 4/4/21
Shipping 4/5/21
EXCLUSIVES: VIP Members will receive a link with their shipment to a private tasting with Lustau's cellar master, Sergio Martinez in the bodega!
The origins of some of the most important houses in the world of sherry date back to the 19th Century…a period of expansion, growth, and prosperity in the region. It is during this century, and before, that many of the great houses cemented their place amongst the history of Jerez.
Emilio Lustau SA was founded in 1896 by Don José Ruiz-Berdejo. In the beginning, Lustau was essentially an Almacenista, a modest estate with small holdings that sold most of its wine to large exporting Bodegas. It was not until the 1950s that Lustau became Emilio Lustau SA, and it joined the prestigious ranks of a select group of exporters of Sherry. In the early 1980s, Emilio Lustau SA, then under the management of the late Rafael Balao, became one of the most innovative companies in Jerez, launching the “Almacenista” line and creating the distinctive bottle that we know today. Lustau is now widely considered one of the finest producers of Sherry, with their Almacenista line breaking new ground in hand-crafted, boutique wines. These Sherries, drawing on rare and marvelous wines held by small producers, are some of the finest Sherries made today.
To pay homage to their humble beginnings, they created a a line of wines that showcases other Almacenista, or small bodegas aging wines for other estates. We are thrilled to showcase those wines here in this shipment, offering wines from all three of the towns in the sherry triangle: Jerez, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María.
We’re also including an en rama bottling. Lustau’s 3 En Rama series highlights unfiltered selections from some of their best barrels in each town.
1) FINO
Lustau Almacenista José Luis González Obregon, Fino Del Puerto (El Puerto de Santa Maria)
José Luis began making wine in 1959 as a hobby after retiring from his position as general foreman of an export winery. Nowadays, his son Manuel González Verano leads the winery.
The Solera of this Fino consists of 143 casks which are aged in José Luis González Obregón’s bodegas in El Puerto de Santa María. Pale straw in color; full of “flor” and diesel-like aromas on the nose, with iodine hints.
2) FINO
Lustau, Fino En Rama de Jerez (Jerez)
Sergio Martinez, head cellar master (capatáz), hand selects the best casks to make this series of unfiltered wines from Sanlúcar, Jerea, and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Released once per year.
The inland climate in the town of Jerez de la Frontera has an important influence in the development of the Finos from this area. Its long, hot summers and mild but wet winters provide a more rounded and fuller style of wine. This Fino, aged under “flor” in American oak casks for five years, was selected for its finesse and bottled without any treatment.
3) MANZANILLA
Lustau Almacenista Manuel Cuevas Jurado, Manzanilla Pasada de Sanlúcar (Sanlúcar de Barrameda)
Manuel was an important grocer in Sanlúcar de Barrameda who began his career as a vintner in 1950. After his death, Manuel’s son and grandchildren continued the business in memory of its founder.
The Solera of this Manzanilla Pasada consists of 80 casks, which are aged in Manuel Cuevas Jurado’s bodegas in “Calle Trabajadero” (Trabajadero St.) in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Pale straw colour, this Manzanilla Pasada is delightfully aromatic with reminiscences of green apples and the characteristic hint of sea breeze.
4) MANZANILLA
Buelan Compañía De Sacas, Las Canciones No. 1 Mirador Manzanilla (Sanlúcar De Barrameda)
a single barrel bottling, Bota #18, of manzanilla selected with the help of Willy Perez and Ramiro Ibañez of M. Ant. De La Riva. A saca of 500 bottles from almacenista, Bodegas del Río, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, led by 3rd generation capatáz, Luís del Río.
“Las Canciones” is to be a series of barrel-selected sherries named after songs. “Mirador” Manzanilla is named after Nick’s song of the same title, released in December 2020, inspired by Mirador de San Nicolás in Granada, Spain, a church and lookout or watchtower overlooking the city and the Alhambra.
It is a young, lively manzanilla with an average of 3yrs in solera with intense notes of citrus, sea shells, and salt. Literally a stone’s throw from the sandy, brackish delta of the Guadalquivir River...a short drive north past the very end of the Bajo de Guía, it truly captures the terroir of Barrio Bajo in Sanlúcar. The barrel was selected from a row of barrels along the warmer wall of the bodega, and a warmer side of the room, leading to a fresher, more playful expression.
5) AMONTILLADO
Lustau Almacenista, Amontillado del Puerto del Castillo (El Puerto de Santa María)
Antonio ran a brandy distillery in the 1870’s. At the end of the 19th century he established a few soleras of sherry for his private consumption. His nephews took over the business after he retired and continued his legacy as almacenistas.
This exclusive solera of Amontillado consists of 38 casks. It is aged for an average period of 18 years, in the cellars of the Castle of San Marcos in the coastal town of El Puerto de Santa María. Beautiful bright amber colour with coppery reflections. This wine shows aromas of hazelnut praline and candied orange zest with nuances of smoked wood in the background.
6) OLOROSO
Lustau Almacenista Juan García Jarana, Oloroso Pata de Gallina (Jerez)
García Jarana’s cellar, known as El Aljibe, is quaint, charming, and picturesque. García Jarana’s sherries are renowned for their quality and only include small soleras of Oloroso, Amontillado, and Pedro Ximénez.
Its exclusive Solera has only 38 casks. Aged in the charming bodega “El Aljibe” in Jerez de la Frontera. “Pata de Gallina” is the name for wines that display an above average richness and smoothness, due to high levels of glycerol. Dark gold in colour, with aromas of dried fruits and pipe tobacco.
7) PALO CORTADO
Lustau Almacenista Cayetano del Pino y Cía, Palo Cortado (Jerez)
The bodega was established by Mr. Cayetano del Pino y Vazquez in 1886 and since has been exporting wines. By the end of the 1970’s Cayetano del Pino y Cía decided to become an Almacenista.
The Solera of this Palo Cortado comprises only 22 casks and it’s aged in the winery that Cayetano del Pino owns in Jerez de la Frontera. Old gold in color with amber reflections. Very bright and clean. A delicate yet pungent nose, with almond-like aromas that remind of its biological ageing phase.
8) OLOROSO
Lustau, Oloroso Añada 2002
An unusual way of understanding sherry wines through a lesser-known facet of the region. The House of Lustau started The Vintage Series in 1989. Every vintage evolves following its own route, not blended to follow the path and flavor of the solera. The wine is bottled only when it has reached its peak. With no time limits.
This añada is late harvest palomino grapes, fermented partially to retain some sugar, and matured for 17 years in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks following a static, oxidative aging. The 5,982 bottles were released in Winter 2019 when the wine has reached its peak.