Fino Don Zoilo 15%, Williams & Humbert

Appearance
Slightly lemony pale strawy gold, light legs.
Nose
Fresh, quite full and soft yet with plenty flor yeastines, traces of almondy bitterness and quince fruit, quite plump, all this yet quite serious.
Palate
Also quite serious, assertive, some salty flor tang, a trace of Marmite and that almondy bitterness, some weight yet a certain leanness, very dry, long and classy, that seriousness needs food though.
Comments
A very good Fino, and a cracking aperitif - it really gets the gastric juices going. It comes from a solera with 9 criaderas and is aged approximately 8 years. This wine was named in honour of Jose Maria Ruiz Mateos' father, Zoilo Ruiz Mateos Camacho, who in a small way established the business which eventually became Rumasa. It was Rumasa's best Fino, and always sold at a premium.

Price

If I remember rightly it was about 10 Euros at the Bodega

News from Jerez 8.9.12

The super tastings at the Alcazar have begun

The first event in the series took place last night with a menu proposed by Alta Cazuela – a catering firm run by two local chefs - and the wines of Grupo Estevez. Maribel Estevez, enologist of the bodega, put forward Fino Inocente, Amontillado Tio Diego, Oloroso Ermitano, Royal Cream and Moscatel Promesa to match pickled fish, partridge pate with caramelised onion, Barbate tuna steak and mixed mushroom risotto, among other dishes.

Saturday’s event features the wines of Williams and Humbert matched with a different menu from Alta Cazuela. Antonio Fernandez Vasquez Maeso, enologist at the bodega, will lead the tasting. He is offering Fino Don Zoilo, Amontillado Coleccion 12 Anos, Oloroso Coleccion 12 Anos, Canasta Cream and PX Don Zoilo 12 Anos.

Meanwhile at the bullring:

The XLV edition of the Fiesta de la Buleria kicks off tonight. This is an absolute must for Flamenco fans, the Buleria is indigenous to Jerez, and its greatest exponents are here. Some great names will be performing such as Jesus Mendez - said by some to have inherited the greatness of La Paquera  (a legendary singer who died some time ago); Juan Moneo “El Torta”and Tomasa Guerrero “La Macanita” among others. The leading dancer will be Mercedes Ruiz and the guitarists will be Ismael Heredia and Isaac Moreno. These are all flamenco stars from Jerez but are famous far beyond.

Tomasa "La Macanita"

The Cooperative Virgen de la Caridad regains control from Ruiz Mateos

The Sanlucar Cooperative has regained ownership of all the shares of Bodegas CAYDSA which it sold to Nueva Rumasa in 2009 for 12 million euros – of which only 800,000 was ever paid - and which was renamed Bodegas Teresa Rivero. After “laborious and complex negotiations”, mainly with the administrators, the Coop, which has 700 members, is now awaiting the rubber stamp from the courts which should come through “in a few days”.