Amontillado 17.5%, Elías González

Appearance

Bright chestnut to amber with copper glints.

Nose

Attractive almondy nuttiness and comparatively youthful oxidation with slightly savoury and saline notes. There are hints of almond cooked in caramel (garrapiñada) and toasted egg yolk turrón. along with faint hints of oak. Quite young but none the worse for that.

Palate

Faint elements of dried fruit join all that savoury oily nuttiness. The wine is dry, tangy and fairly light  with an appealing salty hint and  generous follow through with a good long clean finish.

Comments

The bodega, which is also an almacenista (they supply Lustau), only bottles Manzanilla and the other wines are only sold on draught (en granel). It is a shame as they are good, but without a label they can't really get the promotion they deserve.

Price
7 euros per litre, draught ex bodega

Manzanilla en rama Elías 15%, Elías González Guzmán

Appearance

Pale to mid strawy gold with some legs.

Nose

Lots of fresh crisp flor with briny, beach-like salinity and a touch of bread dough and a slight note of dampness. All the correct Manzanilla characteristics with reasonable intensity and a certain depth.

Palate

Nice and bitter with a decent acidity, both of which give it some length. Bright and very fresh  with some intensity, the bitterness then rounds out leaving a clean briny finish. Good.

Comments

This is Manzanilla Elías bottled en rama. I am presuming the strength is 15% as there is no mention of it on the label - which is therefore, er, illegal... Still, the wine is above board even if the presentation lacks some sparkle - and sorry about the photo...

Price

8.50 Euros

Bodegas: Elías González Guzmán

This fairly small family business in Sanlúcar is now into the third generation and has been run since 1989 by Santiago González Pinto. They have traditionally sold wines in bulk but now in bottle as well and are registered at the Consejo Regulador as a bodega de Crianza y Expedición.

Interior of the bodega

The own some vineyards and make their wine from start to finish, selling their wares in a shop right in the centre of Sanlúcar. One can buy a bottle or bring your own to be filled from the barrels in the shop, and they also sell Caballero’s Manzanilla Macarena.

Manzanilla de la Casa (foto:decopasconbaco.blodspot)

Their own wines are:

Manzanilla de la Casa: 7 years old sold in bulk to local tabancos and some bottled en rama in 50cl bottles

Manzanilla, Manzanilla Elías, Amontillado, Oloroso, Cream, Moscatel and PX available in bottle or bulk – filled from the barrel in the shop

Address: Bodega: Banda Playa, 66, 11540 Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz 

                Shop: Avenida Quinto Centenario, Sanlúcar. Here you can buy draught and bottled wines

Telephone: Bodega 956 360 626 The bodega can be hired for celebrations, dinners etc.

e-mail: santiago@manzanillaelias.com

website: www.manzanillaelias.com

Visits? Yes, by appointment