2021 Equipo Navazos Ovni Palomino Fino

Everything indicates that the origins of Andalusia's biological aging date back to the second half of the eighteenth century, halfway between Sanlúcar (which supplies the wines) and Cádiz (which supplies the market and commercial channels and the beneficial effects of the flor were also valued first.

The palomino fino grape meets - along with moscatel and pedro ximénez - the trinity of historic Andalusian varieties. The grape of sherry and manzanilla, it has been the dominant variety in Sanlúcar vineyards for over two hundred years and the domain across the sherry triangle was established after the phylloxera debacle. The ideal natural alcohol content usually varies between 11.5 / 12% alc. near the coast or the Guadalquivir River, and 12/13%

It should certainly not be overstated that Equipo Navazos has also been the trendsetter in making unfortified white top wines from Palomino, because not only fantastic sherries can be made from Palomino, but also white dry salty top wines.

The unfortified white Ovni Palomino Fino 2021 comes from vineyards close to the coast, in Pago Miraflores la Baja in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Fermentation took place in barrels as was the tradition for centuries until a few decades ago. It fermented in sherry casks with native yeasts and usually aged without flor in stainless steel, but it always develops some flor that gives it a light sherry twist or perhaps better some kind of fresh oxidative content. The alcohol percentage is only 11.5%, this is only the third vintage to be bottled after 2015 (2015, 2018 and now 2021). The wine is very clean and precise, pure, with good freshness and some austerity. The wine has a complex nose dominated by minerality and tropical fruit with aromas of white flowers, fragrant notes of bread and balsamic notes. This wine has been aged under a veil (flor) of yeast and then these notes come into their own when they are tasted between 3° and 6°C - so serve very chilled.

The idea behind this project by Coalla Gourmet and Equipo Navazos is to provide a new perspective on the true essence of Andalusian wines. Without denying authenticity in any way, the magical chalky soils of Lower Andalusia can produce the raw materials for wonderful finos, manzanillas, amontillados, palos cortados and olorosos - undoubtedly wines of world quality and reputation - as well as refreshing and minerally structured wines such as this one OVNI Palomino Fino 2018. A cheerful wine without artifice or pretense, pure, authentic and natural.