Equipo Navazos “I Think” Manzanilla En Rama Saca 2014 was recommended as one of 43 “Must-Try” Spanish wines (one of three Unfiltered Sherry selections) in Food & Wine‘s “The Ultimate Spanish Wine Guide”, part of the extensive coverage in their Spain issue, September, 2017. Ray Isle, the Executive Wine Editor of this national publication, put together a highly selective guide to Spain’s broad range of wine regions, styles and trends.
The capsule review follows:
2014 Equipo Navazos I Think Manzanilla En Rama ($18)
Winemaker Jesús Barquin [Founder of Equipo Navazos along with Eduardo Ojeda, Winemaker of I Think] ages this manzanilla under a blanket of flor for four and a half years before bottling it barely filtered. It’s nutty, exotic and bone dry.
This complex and refreshing Sherry “en rama” (in the raw) is bone dry and was drawn from cask in April 2014. It’s a clear golden straw color. Fresher than the February 2013 saca, it will continue to develop in complexity and body. The nose is fragrant with scents of honey, beeswax, white flower and salty almond. As it opens in the glass hints of green apple and buttery dough. The attack is crisp, tangy and vibrant on the palate with underlying yeasty, honeyed richness. It envelopes the palate with chalk and lime pith notes. The mouthfeel is smooth and bright, flowing into refined finish with lingering hints of nut and brine. Beautifully balanced and the essence of Manzanilla. Or so we think.
SERVE WELL CHILLED