Bodegas César Florido Cruz del Mar Cream Sherry, Jerez [375ML]

Bodegas César Florido, 'Cruz del Mar' Cream Sherry, Jerez, Spain (375ml - Half Bottle)

Founded in 1887, Bodegas César Florido is one of the oldest bodegars located in the town of Chiopiona, one of the western-most Sherry-producing towns in the Sherry triangle. César Florido’s name is synonymous with moscatel.  His village of Chipiona,  is well adapted to the grape variety and has the best moscatel vineyards in the region. These concentrated wines, made from shriveled grapes, can acquire enormous complexity with a long period of cask aging.

Grapes: 75% Palomino and 25% Moscatel

Farming: Sustainable

Terroir / Soil: Sandy-clay soils

Vinfication: Cream sherries, an English invention, are sweet blends, usually of dry oloroso base wine with pedro ximénez. César turns the concept around by using moscatel instead of pedro ximénez to sweeten the blend. Another unique feature of his Cruz del Mar Cream Sherry is that he sources his palomino and moscatel grapes from family vineyards in prime areas. Most Cream Sherry is made by a bodega as an afterthought from inferior ingredients. César Florido puts the same care and ingredients into his Cream bottling as he does with the rest of his line, aging it an average of seven years in solera.

Tasting Notes: This moscatel is the reference point for the classic, balanced sweet wines of the zone, characterized by notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and a honeyed, raisiny palate, with medium sweetness.