Bodegas Ximénez Spínola, PX Vintage, Jerez, Spain, 2021

Producer Profile

There are not many wineries that have built their success by focusing on just one grape variety, let alone one that has been permanently out of fashion, but that is precisely what Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola have done since 1729.

Working solely with Pedro Ximénez, they produce a selection of fascinating dry wine, dessert wine and sherry. However, there are not many wineries with such immense history and deep knowledge of Pedro Ximénez either, making them true masters of the grape and producer of some truly exceptional wines.

Viticulture

Once cut, the grapes spend no less than 21 days exposed to the sun, which dehydrates them slowly and progressively, concentrating the sugars and providing an elegant natural sweetness. Since the “sun-drying" causes the grapes to dehydrate, for every ton of fresh grapes only 300 kg of raisined grapes are obtained, which generates about 100 kg of waste (skin, stalks, seeds) and 200 litres of must.

Winemaking

This wine gets its alcohol naturally taking advantage of the blending with less dehydrated grapes that reach the winery in the first days of sun-drying. Fermented in American oak barrels to reach 12% then held for three months in wood. It is clarified by a natural decantation through a soft cellulose filter directly to the bottle to keep its natural aromas and flavours.

Oak Ageing

Time: 12 Months
Type: American Oak
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

A vibrant amber colour, ripe grape and raisin on the nose. Fresh palate with a velvet entry and well integrated acidity. Dates, figs, raisins and a lengthy finish.

Food Matching

Simply divine with desserts made from dark bitter chocolate.