2.3.26 The “Emperor “of Brandy Takes Possession of Domecq

The old Domecq installations are facing the dawn of a new era. Andrew Tan arrived in Jerez yesterday with the contract and took possession of his new purchase from Beam Suntory. Grupo Emperador is the world’s biggest brandy producer with sales of some 33 million cases. It has bought the old Domecq bodegas, the Viña el Majuelo with its tower in the Pago Macharnudo, the brands Fundador, Tres Cepas, Harveys and Terry as well as the distillery in Tomelloso.

The Emperor, Andrew L Tan (foto:diariojerez)

The Filipino magnate wants to bring back the glory, success and positioning of Fundador and make it into a globally recognised brand. He will call the company Bodegas Fundador, but will not be overlooking the other brands such as world leader Harveys Bristol Cream, Terry Centenario, the leading brandy in Spain and Tres Cepas which has potential in emerging markets. He said he wants to make the product even better which will need investment but he is committed to this and also to look at ways to revive the fortunes of Sherry. “I believe in the future of Sherry and Brandy de Jerez”.

PX Vina 25 17%, Lustau

Appearance
Very deep - almost opaque blacky burnt umber to yellow at rim, pronounced slow legs, viscous.
Nose
Deeply fruity and unctuous, lots of pasa (raisin) and dried fig, you can smell that texture. It smells of the pasas arriving at the bodega, of that miraculous juice which runs from the press, only more concentrated. It is at that stage where the wine is still fruit-laden and just not quite showing the more phenolic notes of coffee and wood that greater age would bring. I would guess it is about ten years old.
Palate
That texture is here in spades! You almost feel that you are eating those pasas, and their intense sweetness covers the tannin from the grape stems which cannot be removed. There is lots of treacle and cinder toffee, along with what one might call "proto coffee" notes, but overall, here is a really good, deep, fruity wine with all the hallmarks of a good PX. I love it!
Comments
This is one of the old Domecq brands which were acquired by Lustau after the dismemberment of Domecq in 2008. The odd name of the wine stems from the name of the vineyard (or "Vina") which consisted of 25 aranzadas, an old measurement of land area. 25 of these equate to 10 hectares, so 1 aranzada is roughly equal to 1 acre. The vineyard was particularly suited to growing PX due to its exposure, but unfortunately no longer exists as they built a motorway on it. The wine is aged in a solera founded in 1892.
Price
I paid 11.30 Euros in Spain, but unfortunately UK agents Bibendum don't ship it.