MANZANILLA

There are also a few ‘National Days’ which generic bodies try to hitch a ride to in order to bathe in wines in the spotlight for a moment or so. But none of these ‘celebrations’ is as pulse-quickening as the moment that La Gitana’s En Rama Manzanilla hits the shelves. You will be familiar with the regular La Gitana – the finest value, aperitif-style dry sherry on the planet well the En Rama version is the fresh-as-daisies, ‘free run’ juice, natural yeasts, honest and elemental styles of Manzanilla. This is a bone dry, palate-invigorating, sharply tangy Sherry and it is bottled without filtration or fining. It is literally taken from the barrel and therefore it is the untainted juice directly harvested from Palomino grapes grown in the famous Albariza soils of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The four merchants listed have just this second received their stock so make that call today! Matthew Jukes, Moneyweek (May 2020)

Oh my goodness this is tasty! Indeed, I can’t for the moment think of a better aperitif or kick-starter to a lockdown-jaded appetite. Family-owned Bodegas Hidalgo was founded in 1792 and is famous for its La Gitana Manzanilla sherry, produced in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. This, La Gitana En Rama, is even more toothsome, being sherry in its rawest, least mucked about, most natural state. Produced from 100 per cent Palomino free-run juice, it’s un-fined and only lightly filtered having spent eight years in the solera. It’s spicy, salty and citrusy with a fine savoury kick to the finish and I absolutely adore it.Jonathan Ray - The Spectator (May 2020)