Fernando de Castilla Classic Fino Sherry 750 mL
(Jerez, Spain) - [WS 91]

About this Winery:
Widely recognized as one of the most exceptional of the small, independent sherry houses, Rey Fernando de Castilla was originally founded in 1837 by a family named Andrada-Vanderwilde; Fernando Andrada was the owner and the winery trademarked the name Rey Fernando de Castilla in 1969.

In 1999, the house was purchased by Jan Pettersen, a Norwegian with a passion for top quality sherry and 15 years experience at Osborne. After taking over the cellars of the sherry shipper José Bustamante, located next door to the main facilities of Fernando de Castilla, Jan quickly revitalized this winery, and today they are once again known as masters of the production and aging of fine, unblended, untreated sherries.

They produce two lines: the Classic range (roughly between 2 and 9 years old) and the premium Antique range (up to 30 years). The wines in the Classic line have lower alcohol, and are styled to be more, well, classic, meaning that these are wines that are textbook representations of their kind. However, this house’s reputation is based on the excellence of the Antiques, a series of intensely pure and complex single solera sherries that undergo extended aging in the cellar which results in sherries of great complexity and depth.

About this Wine:
BLEND | 100% Palomino Fino

VINEYARDS | Grapes are grown on estate vineyard “Pago Balbaino” on white albariza soils containing 70-80% limestone. 

WINEMAKING | The grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel. Headlined to 15% and subjected to biological aging under flor yeast in oak barrels for the traditional solera and criaderas system. The average age of the wine is 5 years.

Ratings & Reviews:

91 Points - Wine Spectator
“This has enticing range, with hints of nectarine and white peach out front, followed quickly by a saltier profile of chalk, quinine, Brazil nut and citrus oil. The long, vigorous finish has lovely spine, leaving a fleur de sel note echoing.” - James Molesworth