It’s been exciting to see the rise of Fino and Manzanilla en rama, a story explained in more detail here. This is the new release from Hidalgo La Gitana, which I visited last year.
Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla en Rama NV (2024 release)
15% alcohol. This is lovely. From La Cuadrado vineyard in the Balbaina Alta Pago, it’s a full yellow/gold colour. Lovely nose with some oily apple, pear and peach notes, a touch of old furniture and a whiff of drying seaweed. The palate is dense, dry and tangy with a saline twist to the apple, lemon and pear fruit, with some almond and old cask notes on the finish. Such a lovely expression of Manzanilla, with richness and volume as well as the tang of flor. 94/100
See also: last year’s release, compared with the regular La Gitana