This truly delicate, engaging Palo Cortado (a style of Sherry halfway between Amontillado and Oloroso) is not only something truly wondrous in the glass, it is also a type of Sherry that is beyond rare because, firstly, it is a brilliant, authentic Palo Cortado! And secondly, because it is both a single-vineyard and a single vintage wine.

As per La Bota No. 52, this is derived from a selection of musts coming from grapes harvested in a single vintage (2010) in the Pago Miraflores, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. This is the same vineyard that gives us the 'florpower' wines. The wines were fermented in tank and only saw a very brief period of ageing under flor before being fortified and sent to Sherry butts and barriques that were filled almost all the way up (a tocadedos) to avoid too much oxidation.

For this first saca Navazos have selected the contents of six botas. The ageing in barrel has only been for three and a half years (historically it was longer for Palo Cortado). There are different ways that Palos are produced these days but the equipo believe that the above methodology is the most 'authentic' way to produce a PC. Only 18% alcohol, which again is low for PC. As always, Navazos + Palo Cortado = a stunning wine. "Navazos already bottled a very young Palo Cortado from Sanlúcar with the number 52 back in 2014, and it's now time for a new edition, the NV La Bota de Palo Cortado 75 "Sanlúcar." It's produced with grapes from the Miraflores La Baja vineyard in Sanlúcar de Barrameda from the 2010 harvest--even if the vintage date is not shown on the label. Fermented in stainless steel, it achieved a natural alcohol level of around 12% and was straight away fortified to 17.5% alcohol.

This has developed very nicely since the first bottling, with more precision and character, and it feels more "palo cortado," with notes of aromatic herbs and a sweetish tone, hints of apricots and a very expressive and tasty finish. It matured in topped-up, 225-liter barrique.