WHITE/STILL/DRY/FORTIFIEDPalomino Fino from the Jerez Superior district. After destemming and pressing, a light white wine is fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature. After six months it is fortified to around 17% abv, and is transferred to American oak casks. After the foreman of the bodega has decided that the young sherry is beginning to show oloroso characteristics, it is fortified further to 20% abv and enters the Bailén solera. There it matures without the protection of flor, and so gradually oxidises - in doing so it darkens and gains its distinctive style. Bailén has an average solera age of ten years.
‘Bailén’ is a natural oloroso: that is a wine aged in solera but without flor – therefore an oxidised wine. Like all natural Sherry, it is a dry wine.
Bailén, in the province of Jaen, was the scene in 1808 of an important battle in which Spanish forces defeated the French.
Bailén, in the province of Jaen, was the scene in 1808 of an important battle in which Spanish forces defeated the French.
