EQUIPO NAVAZOS Manzanilla Pasada La Bota 120 - DO Sanlúcar de Barrameda HALF LITRE 16.5%abv

Description

The Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 120 Botas NO is a remarkable expression of sherry, showcasing the depth and complexity of the region. With an intense nose offering aromas of toasted almonds, salted cashews, and hints of sourdough, it immediately captivates the senses. On the palate, the wine displays a salty concentration that is both rich and vibrant, leading to a rounded, tangy finish. The harmonious balance between the biological and oxidative elements gives it a unique character, with nuances reminiscent of Amontillado, featuring notes of hazelnuts and varnish. This extraordinary Manzanilla, aged an average of 14 years, is approachable yet possesses the structure for further ageing. A true revelation for sherry enthusiasts, it is best enjoyed now or over the coming years.

*****

Equipo Navazos was born out of a group of friend’s passion to share the authentic, traditional wines of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Montilla … legitimately some of the greatest wines of the world!

These wines come from soleras and individual casks that remain, relatively neglected by the market in corners of many of Andalusia’s most prestigious bodegas. These unexpected yet fortunate findings have been made available to wine lovers around the world in limited quantities under the La Bota series (consecutively numbered editions, with the date of each saca or withdrawl date on the label) … in doing so respecting generations of expertise and care for these rare and beautiful wines. Today their efforts are increasingly focused on producing their own exceptional wines, such as Florpower, that truly express the character of Sanlúcar and its unique terroir. Outside of Andalusia, Equipo Navazos have collaborated with winemakers including Dirk Niepoort and Sergi Colet to develop authentic and individual wines that never fail to impress.

The white chalky soil of the Jerez area, 'albariza,' is ideal for the cultivation of Palomino grapes which produce the sherry for which Jerez is so well known. With a focus on the old vine vineyards of Mirafloes La Baja, Sanlúcar from which their Florpower wines come from. However, experience has shown them that, in the end, the vineyard always prevails regardless of the intensity and duration of ageing, which is why they increasingly tend to limit the latter more and more.

DECANTER 99 points
Tasted by: Sarah Jane Evans MW (at London, 19 Jan 2021)
Drinking Window: 2021 - 2028
Equipo Navazos celebrated its 15th birthday on 9 December 2020, and marked the occasion with its 100th bottling. An excuse for a new release, then, but what a release! The wine is a Manzanilla Pasada – like all the releases ending in zero. It’s a larger release than usual, combining three outstanding casks. The wine is some 14 years old. A key feature is that the butts have been kept close to full, well about Sherry’s usual 5/6 level meaning that there’s less flor; what's there is feeble through age. The resulting slow oxidation gives glorious complexity. Enough of the detail: the wine is simply sensational. A fabulous blend of elegance and intensity, with notes from the chalky Sanlucar terroir. If you have never tasted Equipo Navazos before, this is the place to begin. And if you are used to drinking light, pale, faint regular Manzanillas, then snap this up. It’s a revelation. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary Equipo Navazos.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97+ points
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Drink Date: 2023 - 2037
The NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 120 Botas NO is the most recent bottling of this mythical wine, in this case the result of combining the “Bota Punta” with two outstanding casks of the 1/15 solera. This is an extraordinary Manzanilla of character, complexity and depth, with 14 years of average age, matured under flor for 10 years (and in a more oxidative way the last four to five years) in topped-up barrels. So, it's a little in the way of turning into an Amontillado but keeping the biological and saline character of the Manzanilla. I tasted from an opened bottle, and the wine had closed down and took some time to open up. The nose is impressive, for the first time with some Amontillado hints, mainly hazelnuts and a little varnish. It has concentration and depth, persistence and pungency. It's approachable and has the stuffing and balance to age nicely. 3,000 half-liter bottles produced. It was bottled in 2023.

Equipo Navazos keeps releasing some of the most spectacular Sherries. They have also released some bottles of very old vinegar and a couple of vermouths! Eduardo Ojeda has retired from Estévez, which is now 50% owned by Macallan!
Published: Oct 03, 2024

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
Intense nose with lots of toasted almonds, salted cashews, sourdough, biscuits and a touch of persimmon. Salty and concentrated, with a rounder, salty finish. Very tangy, racy and long. Goes on and on. Saca from September 2023. Drink now.
Zekun Shuai - Senior Editor