I love this and get slightly carried away in my descriptions at times. It is one of the wines plucked from the stocks of a famous old almacenista – on this occasion Garcia Jarana – by the guys at Equipo Navazos and then finished by them in their own botas housed in Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla (another favourite maker of mine). 

It is not a super aged, super powerful wine like some of the palo cortados around but for me it is what a palo cortado should be – fine, elegant and balanced. If anything, I would compare it to the Emilio Hidalgo Amontillado Tresillo 1874: the 34 maybe has slightly less body but is also just a shade lighter on the finish. 

It is a red amber rather than brown colour. Slightly sweet on the nose, with orangey stewed apples and a bit of alcohol. A bit of salt and zing first up on the palate, then rich honey toffee in the background and with some bitter, black chocolate, a suggestion of tobacco and a long finish. 

A real masterpiece and my favourite wine ever for less than €40.