The Pinnacle of La Bota? Stunning and Rare
La Bota Manzanilla Pasada "Bota Punta" #50
Ever since #20, the first release, the Manzanilla Pasada Bota Punta has become La Bota's most anticipated and sought after release.
La Bota's #50 marks the 3rd release of this old, single barrel Manzanilla. It's a wine that's released infrequently, something like every two years and in tiny quantities. It quickly disappears from the market.
I can say without the slighted exaggeration that this is one of the world's great, singular wines.
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The #50 originates in a very special solera founded in 1986 at the Bodegas La Guita in Sanlúcar. The wine from this solera was never commercialized. The "Capataz" (the bodega foreman) lovingly kept it going by drawing small amounts of wine and refreshing it to keep the flor (yeasts) alive. The idea was to have some old wine to turbo charge the La Guita's Manzanilla if need be. In the end, it was never used.
Jesús Barquin, sherry scholar and one of La Bota's founders, was in the store a few years ago and said this about the solera: "This is very special. I don't know of anything else like it in Sherry country."
Out of this solera the "Bota Punta" (the barrel at the end row) is even more special. It starts by being identified as having a unique, more intense character than the rest of the barrels in the solera. Then, it's treated differently. When it comes to refreshing this barrel, wine is taken from the solera instead of the younger wine from the 1st criadera, which is the normal procedure. This builds an insane amount of concentration and complexity.
If you're familiar with the #20 or #40, you know just how incredible the results are. The Manzanilla Bota Punta delivers a mindblowing combination of cut and aristocratic depth. The flavor spectrum and finesse that it delivers is just insane. Everything from a firm streak of saline minerality, to warm citrus tones, floral notes and a nuttiness are subtly woven together.
Last fall, I was lucky enough to attend a tasting of all of the releases from this solera (#s 10, 20, 30, 39 & 40) and my impressions of just how special it is only deepened. One of the things that the tasting drove home was just how well the wines aged: six years after release, the #10 was simply stunning. You'll definitely want to cellar some of the #50.
Like I mentioned earlier, the #50 Manzanilla Pasada "Bota Punta" is produced in tiny qualities and disappears from the market quickly. This is one of the great, fascinating wines of the world. I'd advise you to stock up now.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits