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Those of you who have been following the wines of Equipo Navazos, will no doubt remember the fabulous Manzanilla Pasada, La Bota 10 and 20. This, no. 30 comes from the same 15 butt solera, which was started in 1986 by Rafael Rivas, who managed the La Guita cellars at Sanlúcar’s Calle Misericordia, until his recent retirement.

The solera was established for the purpose of producing an old Manzanilla of exceptional quality to boost the commercial ‘la Guita’, as and when required. However, as the ‘La Guita’, never did need such a boost, Rivas carefully nurtured the solera over the years, to ensure that it retained its character and did not develop into an amontillado. This meant that they were disturbed as little as possible, sometimes only being re-filled every two years, with wine sourced from the best solera’s at La Guita. The butts were also filled well above the normal 5/6 level of the sherry region. These actions meant that the layer of ‘flor’ grew weaker as the wine aged and lost its nutrients and also that its volume was reduced, enabling it to be maintained by the infrequent refills. Although still a barrier against oxidation, however, it was no longer fully effective and so this Manzanilla now offers elegant oxidation notes and a budding rise in its alcohol level, at about 15.50/15,90%.

The La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 30 is a complex and powerful wine, with a balanced freshness and elegant oxidation notes, that make it truly unique. Best served at 12 degrees Centigrade, it is amazingly versatile, matching a wide variety of dishes from simple fish recipes, charcuterie and even egg dishes with strong cheeses.