El Maestro Sierra
Amontillado 12 Anõs
Region:
Jerez de la Frontera
Blend:
100% Palomino
The initial stage of the ageing
occurs under a layer of flor
yeast. For the first 6 years the
wine will remain in criaderas
where it acquires pungent
notes and a marked dry
palate. Following this, the wine
is fortified to 17% alcohol in
order to weaken the flor yeast
for the second stage of ageing;
the oxidative process, which
lasts for almost a decade.
During this time the colour of
the wine will slowly darken, the
wine is concentrated and
oxidative flavours develop.
This double process of
biological and oxidative ageing
makes the Amontillados
extraordinary wines, both
complex and interesting.
Farming Practices:
Lutte Raisonnée
SKU 371039
$30.99*
12 x 375ml
*BCLDB Hospitality Price
(Exclude Taxes)
**Prices subject to change
without notice
That’s Life Gourmet Ltd.
Tel: 604.633.9222
Fax: 604.633.9955
www.thatslifegourmet.com
El Maestro Sierra was founded in 1830
and is considered the most traditional of
all the Sherry Bodegas in Jerez. With
some of the oldest and largest barrels
still in use in DO Jerez, El Maestro has
2,000 litre barrels that were signed by
the original cooper. With most barrels in
Jerez built at 600 or 900 litres, the
Consejo Regulador had to rewrite the
laws, to allow for the usage of these most
unusually sized barrels. Their
Amontillado 1830 is made from two
barrels that were constructed with fourinch staves in 1830, and the current
solera has been in place for at least 80
years.
As the only winery in Jerez that handracks their wines (every four months) in
lieu of employing a pneumatic pump, El
Maestro employs such traditional tools as
the jarra and canoa in the movement of
wine through the criadera and solera. Use
of these traditional tools intensifies the
micro oxygenation of the wine, just as in
the 1800′s. As this method increases the
thickness of the flor it also provides the
wine with a weighty richness.
Located inland in Jerez de la Frontera, El
Maestro resides at one of the region’s
highest elevations. Here, the bodega
receives warm winds that blow in from El
Puerto, which creates an ideal
environment for the sustenance of flor. El
Maestro Sierra always bottles their
Amontillado and Oloroso en rama, while
the fino is very lightly filtered to maintain
freshness. The Amontillado has intense
aromas of salts and almonds. It is very
elegant and similar palate to the El
Maestro Sierra collection.