Fernando de Castilla Antique Palo Cortado

A fine rare wine, which combines the pure tangy nuttiness of Amontillado with the smooth smoky richness of Oloroso in an elegant complex style. This Palo Cortado is the perfect companion to cured hard cheeses such as Manchego or Parmesan.

Only about 1-2% of the grapes pressed for sherry naturally develop into palo cortado. The name means ‘cut stick,’ in reference to the mark made on the cask when this style of wine is recognized. Since the wine was originally destined to be a fino or amontillado, it will initially have had a single stroke marked on the cask. When the cellar master realises that the wine is becoming a palo cortado, he draws a cross (or cut) through the initial stroke (or stick), resulting in a crossed stroke or ‘cut stick’ (/). At this time the wine will be fortified to about 20% abv, to prevent spoilage from contact with the air and ageing continued separately from its original solera. This sherry is on average 30 years old.