Amazing to think that I started hoarding these little bottles seven years ago and even more amazing to crack them open and find the wine is still sensational, maybe even better than it was. Was nostalgic to see this bottle still had the “manzanilla” with no pasada on the label and the agglomerate cork instead … Continue reading Solear en Rama Spring 2014 – the Red Kite, 7 years on
There is still a feeling of sacrilege when I open these little bottles that have been stashed away these last few years but the regret doesn’t outlast the first mouthfull. What an astonishingly nice wine – it really is the archetypal dry sherry. Beautiful gold colour, lovely haybales and yeast on the nose, zingy salinity … Continue reading Solear en rama – Spring 2015 – the Oropéndola
As I have occasionally published, a fellow has accumulated a pretty large collection of these little bottles over the years but, no more. They may or may not improve in the bottle, but the only way to enjoy them is once they are out of it. Plus I have a famously small vinoteca and these … Continue reading Solear en rama, saca de invierno 2013
Difficult to top this, one of my favourite sacas of one of the best manzanillas around, in a magnum, and thanks to social distancing, none of those annoying close range socializers wanting to share it. When reviewing my flock of Solear en Rama for repeats it struck me that I had seen this marbled teal … Continue reading Solear en Rama Summer 2016 – the Marbled Teal
Reacquainted with these recently and after a Wednesday night dominated by Jerez lunch on Thursday kicked off with a tribute to the finest of Sanlucar (and Doñana). Adorned on this occasion by the Ruddy Shelduck, a rare sight in Andalucia and considered sacred by the hindus. This solera should probably be considered sacred by everyone. … Continue reading Solear en rama Saca de Invierno 2019 – the Ruddy Shelduck
Have a big collection of these little bottles and am strongly considering a bit of a clear out – if I could find time to see them all away at once I would but I will likely have to pick them off in some small groups. Not yet, though, because this was one that I … Continue reading Solear en rama – Saca de Primavera 2018 – the Gullheaded Tern
Bache is a great spot for a quick lunch with a cracking list of sherries and some quality, fun solids to accompany them. This is an absolute gem – for me at the same time the definition and archetype of a manzanilla and quite unique. Old gold colour, crystal clear but consistent, fragrant on the … Continue reading Solear en Rama Primavera 2019 in Bache
It’s a surprisingly handsome bird the Northern Gannet – its Spanish name “Alcatraz Atlantico – does it more justice, but it is still not a patch on the wine it graces the label of. This is yet another absolute beauty of a manzanilla off this formidable production line. Gorgeous gold colour, intensely herbal nose, a … Continue reading Solear en Rama Autumn 2018 – the Northern Gannet
A fellas timeline has had more manzanilla lately than his waistline. Something had to be done, and although it may be a saca from the summer this is a perfect winter manzanilla – a bit burnt on top then real heat from the spicy sapidity and salinity. Feisty stuff – is it feistier than usual … Continue reading Solear en rama – Summer 2018 – the Black Eared Wheatear
Back in Madrid and back in business with this superb little bottle. I remember being slightly underwhelmed when this came out – the wine not quite living up to its majestic label – but after a year in the bottle and a few weeks in which the sherry levels in my bloodstream have dropped to … Continue reading Manzanilla Solear en Rama Autumn 2017 – the Iberian Lynx
