Cota 45, Encrucijado Sherry 2014

A blend typical of Ramiro’s mission to revive the history of Jerez: Palomino (classic) with many of the recuperated varieties: Mantúo Castellano, Perruno, Caõcazo and Beba. “Encrucijado” symbolizes the “crossroad” before the wine becomes a Palo Cortado. The wine is aged under flor for around 2 years, before being bottled unfortified. It’s a rich and nutty wine, but guards the freshness and drinkability of an unfortified Palomino, with gentle saltiness and bright blood orange notes. Only 1000 bottles made. 

Ramiro Ibáñez, Sanlúcar native, who returned home in 2009 and started his own project in 2012. He works in his albarizatorio, or “lab for discovery” - the discovery of his ancient albariza soils, positioned 45m above sea level. Ramiro and his collective of radicals, the “Manifesto 119” are dedicated to resuscitating the 119 varieties of Jerez documented in the 1800s that mostly disappeared after the commercialization of sherry by British exporters. Ramiro makes field blend and site specific wines, some fortified but most - in a rebuke of the region’s trends - unfortified, like this cuvée. Ramiro focuses on soils of three Sanlúcar pages: Carrascal, Miraflores and Maina. He ferments these wines in manzanilla barrels without temperature control.