It all began in December 2005, when a group of Sherry lovers including Jesus Barquin, a lawyer and director of the Andalusian Institute of Crimanology at the University of Granada, and a renowned food and drink critic, along with Eduardo Ojeda, the technical director of Grupo Estevez, owners of Bodega Valdespino and the La Guita sherry brand, were visiting a small and historic bodega of Miguel Sanchez Ayala in Sanlucar. It was here that they discovered 65 butts of exceptionally fine old Amontillado, which had languished unsold for around twenty years.
They decided that this wonderful wine was in need of rescue and after an exhausting tasting they selected the equivalent volume of an entire butt (600 75cl bottles) to be bottled privately for their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of their friends within the wine industry and other knowledgeable aficionados.
At some point during this marathon tasting session it was probably agreed upon that they would need a name for this bottling and their newly formed company. They chose the name Equipo Navazos (Team Navazos) and named this first bottling ‘La Bota de Amontillado Navazos’, which was apparently inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The Cask of Amontillado”. A navazos by the way is the name given to farmland reclaimed from the river Guadalquivir estuary which surrounds this historic bodega.
This led them to search for other ‘sleeping treasures’ as they put it in the cellars of Jerez, Sanlucar, El Puerto as well as in and around Montilla. In 2006 they discovered and bottled a traditional Fino from bodegas Valdespino and a Pedro Ximenez from Perez Barquero in Montilla, each one limited to 800 bottles and with the date of each withdrawal or Saca clearly stated on the label. These were followed in early 2007 by an Manzanilla and an Amontillado once again selected from the cellars of Miguel Sanchez Ayala.
By 2007 these limited edition bottlings had begun to cause quiet a stir in the rarefied world of sherries and have been garnering glowing reviews ever since, so much so that Jesus Barquin was honoured with the ‘Premio Nacional de Gastronomia’ award in 2007 for his contribution to the promotion of traditional Andalusian wines.
Per case ex VAT
2008 Blanco, Niepoort-Navazos
185.00
No10. La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada '1/15' (per 6x75cl) Limited Release of 1400 Bottles – Saca January 2008 Bodega: La Guita, Sanlucar
These 15 butts of exceptional Manzanilla (hence the name) were selected by Rafael Rivas, the cellar manager of La Guita some 22 years ago when he was put in charge of the Bodega de la Calle Misericordia. The plan was for these to form a ‘family reserve solera’ however due to the increasing demand for the La Guita this solera was almost forgotten about, with Rafael only occasionally refreshing it with wine from the best solera of La Guita.
In order to avoid the wine becoming an Amontillado the butts were unusually filled to the brim in order to keep the layer of flor alive, well above the 5/6 that is customary in the sherry region. With the butts being ‘over filled’ it only requires a relatively thin layer of flor, which is quiet weak due to the age and lack of necessary nutrients in the wine. So with the occasional refreshing carried out once every two years, it has allowed the wine to be protected from excessive oxidation. In saying that, it has however allowed a delicate, elegant oxidative note to enhance the wine.
The nose took me quiet by surprise. The complex character of the aromas was more akin to an exceptional Amontillado than a Manzanilla. On the palate it is fabulously pure, rich and concentrated with mouth-watering ripe apricots and zesty oranges and that delicate oxidative note. This bottling possesses a lovely life on the palate. Broader and more expansive than the Manzanilla ‘Las Canas’, but with no heaviness to the elegantly long finish.
131.00
No11. La Bota de Pedro Ximenez de Jerez '1/12' (per 6x75cl) Limited Release of 1500 Bottles – Saca January 2008 Bodega: Real Tesoro, Jerez
Pure Perdo Ximenez is an exteremly rare wine. Plantings of this grape account for only around 2% of all the grapes grown in the region. This wine was sourced from a 12 butt solera in the Sacristia (vestry) of Bodegas Real Tesoro filled in 2000 with this wonderful old Perdo Ximenez that had been carefully selected from the stocks of the former Bodega Manuel de Argueso. Since that time the solera has remained untouched and it is estimated the wines average must be around 18 years.
The wine was originally fortified to 18.5% and the butts were only filled to 5/6 in the classical way, in order to discourage the flor growth and allow the development of complex oxidative notes. By the time of bottling the abv has now dropped to around 16.7%.
The colour and viscosity in the glass is very similar to the PX de Montilla below. However, the bouquet here is completely different with hints of apricot and damson jam. The subtle but distinctive oxidative character is immediately evident on both nose and palate, cutting through the luscious sweetness and contrasting beautifully with the exotic dessert style richness. There is no mistaking this wine was born in Jerez! The balance is superb and yet again there is an appealing vibrancy on the long, unctuous finish.
148.00
No16. La Bota de Manzanilla “Navazos” (per 6x75cl) Once again the team have gone ‘back to the future’ with the release of yet another stunning Manzanilla. Just like La Bota releases 4 and 8, they have selected a small quantity of wine for release. This solera is currently fed with musts sourced from two vineyards owned by Sánchez Ayala in the Pago Balbaína: Las Cañas and Viña Soledad. The finesse of these musts, together with the warm and moist climate resulting from the proximity of the sea and the freatic layer (a sedimentary layer indicating the historical existence of salt water), produce delicate wines of great freshness and bestow its classic ‘salty’ character. The average age of this wine is estimated to be around six years and been bottled after only a very light filtration in order to preserve its authenticity and its beautiful golden colour.
112.50
No17. La Bota de Palo Cortado “Bota Punta” (per 6x37.5cl) Just like the previous bottling of ‘Bota Punta’ the team has selected one special butt, which they believe had acquired a singular character. This particular butt is located at the end of a row of ten butts of the prestigious palo cortado viejo solera at Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla. Bota Punta describes this end butt that typically has its own distinctive character.
This, number 17 of the “La Bota de” series, has a completely different origin from that of the preceding La Bota de Palo Cortado “Bota Punta” number 6, which was bottled in 2007 and came from Bodegas M. Gil Luque. In both cases, however, it is a palo cortado, and it is certainly no coincidence that the butt of our choice has been the bota “de punta” in each solera. They equally share a certain similarity in their flavours, especially certain notes of noble wood and peat that recall the elegance of some single malts.
335.00
No18. La Bota de Fino 'Jerez' (per 6x75cl)
215.00
No19. La Bota de Cream de Jerez “Bota NO” (Per 6x37.5cl)
399.50
Except where indicated all wines are priced per case of 12x75cl exclusive of VAT and onward UK carriage.
Delivery charges (exclusive of VAT):-
1 case - £11.95
2-3 cases - £9.50
4 + cases - FREE
E&OE. All wines are available subject to remaining unsold.
For export and all customers requiring the facilities of a bond the majority of our wines are available without duty under bond.
Current duty rates per 12 x 75cl,
still wines £19.26
sparkling wines £24.67
fortified wines £25.68
Anniversary Vintages We are frequently asked to source whiskies and Armagnacs for anniversaries and birthday.
So if you're looking for a particular vintage to celebrate a special occasion, look no further. Vintage whisky, armagnac & cognac.
