Deep tawny-mahogany color; ripe plum, raisins, orange, dates, caramel, toffee, cocoa, mocha, walnuts, tobacco, maple, burnt brown sugar, pinch of salinity on the nose and palate.
Sweet (134 RS) with excellent balancing acidity (3.3 pH). Exceptionally smooth, velvety in the mouth. Blend of 80% oloroso, 20% pedro ximénez grapes; the pedro ximénez used to sweeten the wine. The two grapes are solera-aged separately for 12 years, then are blended and finished for three-years in a 45-cask solera system using American oak casks in the hotter, more humid part of the bodega. Long, warm, palate-pleasuring finish. 20% ABV
Lustau’s effort pays homage to the British East India trading company. In the 17th century, sherry was transported to the East Indies to provide ballast and to be consumed by the crew. The journey’s constant movement and high temperatures was found to improve the wine, making it smoother and more complex. Lustau’s operation, especially the three years after blending, mimics those conditions. The winery may be the only maker—certainly the only volume producer—to continue to make wine in this complex style.
The origins of Emilio Lastau S.A. date to 1896 when José Ruiz-Berdejo, a secretary to the Court of Justice, cultivated vines at his family’s Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza as a hobby. He made wines to be sold to larger sherry producers, an activity known as being an almacenista or stockeeper. The website notes: “In 1931, his daughter, María Ruiz-Berdejo Alberti, acquired a small winery closer to the centre of Jerez de la Frontera and moved there all the preexisting soleras, gaining notoriety and visibility.”
In the 1940s, Maria’s husband, Emilio Lustau Ortega moved the winery to the historic quarter of Jerez de la Frontera, inside the historic walls of the city. In 1945, Emilio stopped being almacenista and began his own brands. In 1950, the company began exporting its own brands. The website notes: “The 80’s were an amazingly prosperous decade where the collection of Lustau wines developed greatly: the Solera Familiar range took shape, the first Almacenista bottlings and concept emerged (1981) and Lustau started to age the Vintage Series (1989).”
In 1990, Lustau merged with a Luis Caballero, a family-owned company prominent in wine and spirits. This gave Lustau financial support and resources from expansion. Today, Bodegas Lustau is a world-class benchmark for quality wines. The operation has received numerous medals and trophies. In 2014 and 2016 they were named the best sherry producer in the International Wine & Spirit competition. They were the first winery in history to win the Len Evans Trophy in the International Wine Challenge.
Lustau East India Solera Sherry is sweet, smooth, velvety. Not syrupy or overpoweringly sweet, excellent balance of sweetness and acidity Fascinating interplay of tangy, salty notes of oloroso (80% of blend) and the sweetness of pedro ximénez. Chill a bit to enhance food pairing. Rich, sweet, nutty makes it versatile joy in a glass for both sweet and savory dishes. Delightful interplay of sweetness, saltiness, acidity. Certainly can be enjoyed on its own or paired with blue cheeses—cabrales, stilton; soft cheeses—brie, coulommiers, torta del casar; creamy cheeses, triple-cream cheese. Can be dessert by itself or pair with crème brûlée, shortbread cookies, puddings, chocolate mousse. Enjoyed with fresh field berries in cream; dried fruits—raisins, prunes. Foie gras. Also versatile for use in cocktails. Tremendous value-price wine. $22-28
