Amontillado 12 Year Old Sherry, El Maestro Sierra (37.5cl)
"El Maestro Sierra is one of the jewels of Jerez. It's a small family winery created in 1830 by José Antonio Sierra, a barrel maker that used to work for González-Byass. It has remained in the family ever since. Director Pilar Pla Pechovierto, who had led the winery since 1976, died in March 2020 at 79 years of age and is now succeeded by her daughter, María del Carmen Borrego Plá. They were one of the best small almacenistas (wineries that produce, store and age wine but only to supply other wineries) and started bottling their own wines in 1992. They own no vineyards and buy the base wine to feed their soleras. They have some very old wines that are released in minute quantities.
The regular NV Amontillado has an average age of 12 years, six years under flor, and then it was fortified to 17.5% alcohol and aged in an oxidative way. It feels bone dry. The price is for a half bottle." Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate