SAN LEÓN MANZANILLA - IT'S GREAT TO SEE YA'

Over the past decade, Sherry has well and truly bounced back, thanks to the efforts of the many fine bodegas in Andulucia’s Sherry triangle, the support of high profile chefs (not the least being Heston Blumenthal) and the emergence of high quality Iberian eateries including Melbourne’s MoVida. Suffice to say, one could even suggest that dry Sherry (Manzanilla, Fino, Amontillado, Palo Cortado and Oloroso) had become rather trendy, a drink enjoyed by the cognescenti.

Bodegas Argüeso’s San León Manzanilla is without a benchmark of its style. Intensely briny, with pronounced yeasty characters, it packs a punch matched by few of its peers. While the superb Sherries of Equipo Navazos have stolen much of the limelight of late, San León is an every reliable stand-by Manzanilla that over-delivers in terms of quality and value for money.

NV SAN LEÓN MANZANILLA
Producer: Herederos de Argüeso
Variety: Fortified wine - Sherry
Vintage: Non-vintage
Region: Andalucia, Spain
ABV: 15.0%
Closure: Screw cap
Format: 375ml
Retail price: $18.99
Date tasted: 18 February 2012

Tasting Note:
Pale silvery lemon. Alluring nose of sea spray, seaweed and fresh sourdough bread. Dry and bracing; this could be nothing other than Manzanilla. Salt, brine, yeasty characters intermingle, leading to a long bone dry finish. A good fresh example of Manzanilla.
Score: 18/20