N.V. La Bota No.46 Oloroso de Montilla

This is a sample from a single cask rather than the finished wine. Was due to be bottled June 2013. Average age of wine 30 years. Deep golden ochre. Rounder than is typical for Oloroso because it is Montilla rather than Jerez and PX rather than Palomino Fino. Walnut skin and just a touch floral. Harsher than any of the wines tasted in this line up so far. Very dry, powerful and just a little astringent but also distinctive. More rustic and belligerent. Rough but characterful. 16.5 points

The NV La Bota De Oloroso 46 is produced from Pedro Ximenez grapes in Montilla-Moriles, sourced from the Perez Barquero winery. It displays a deep amber color, denoting its old age (it could be around 25 to 30 years old), the nose and palate show the different grape, Pedro Ximenez, which gives more powerful wines than Palomino, with a touch of rusticity. Montilla has a continental climate which ages and concentrates the wines faster than in Jerez. The nose has some sweet notes of dry apricots, very fine and elegant. The palate is surprisingly dry, it fills the mouth with penetrating flavors of hazelnuts and cashews, is powerful, with a very long finish. Benchmark Montilla Oloroso. Drink 2013-2020. 94 points