Amontillado (La Cigarrera)

This is the standard Amontillado from Bodegas La Cigarrera in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. They also have an older Amontillado Viejo, a single barrel wine from their sacristía – it comes with a VOS certification.

This Amontillado is said to be around 6 years old. It spends the first four years under flor. La Cigarrera doesn’t own vineyards: musts are selected from local vintners and cooperatives.

Amontillado (17%, La Cigarrera)

Nose: fairly intense though rather high on fruity notes (orange peel, golden raisins) indicating its youth. The punzante notes (saline, alcoholic punch, including a hint of balsamic in this case) are on a second plan. Lots of nutty notes (almonds, walnuts), straw and caramel candy. Light herbal notes and warm wood. The Manzanilla provenance is easy to notice.

Mouth: initially less spikey – a smooth entry that starts on dried fruits and flowers, with a vague sweetness (or rather glycerine). However it gains intensity over time. Growing salty and bitter notes. Some sanluqueño coastal notes too (sea breeze and iodine). Light resinous touches. Long, juicy aftertaste on dried fruits and fine oak.

Availability: around € 11-15, distributors can be found here.

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Summary: This is a balanced, smooth wine, a bit younger and less complex than other Amontillados on the market, but quite charmful. Above all this Amontillado Fino is easy to pair with food. Or indeed, have on its own if you like a rounded, smooth example.

3.5

Good

Tags: 17%, Amontillado, La Cigarrera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda

About the Author

Ruben is a Certified Sherry Educator who fell in love with sherry some 25 years ago, but switched to a higher gear in 2013 and started writing about it. Lived in Madrid for a couple of years, now back in Belgium. I also run a whisky blog over at www.whiskynotes.be