2002 Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Pedro Ximenez

Pedro Ximenez is one of the extraordinary sweet wines of the world. The bodega is located in an obsolete electricity plant which has been converted into a cellar. The owner, Jose Maria Toro Albala is a renown eccentric collector, who has established a museum of countless collected objects, as well as containing the finest collection of aged Pedro Ximenez.

Jose Toro Albala is a wine fanatic, with a special passion for sweet wine. He states "wine is as old as the bible and is best savoured knowing its culture"

Only one variety of grape is grown, and that is Pedro Ximenez, planted on 7 hectares which is owned by the bodega. Top local growers augment the bodegas requirements. The vines are grown on two distinct soil types, which produce different wine styles. The alberos is a pale limestone based soil, producing grapes with finesse and elegance. The other soils are Ruedos, which is composed of red sand, with some clay and limestone.

The Vineyard
The Pedro Ximenez vines are kept small and trained low to compensate for the extensive arid conditions found in Montilla. The PX ripens quickly in the heat. Once picked, the grapes are laid out on mats in the sun in order to concentrate the sugar and flavour.

Fermentation
Fermentation, of these super concentrated musts progress slowly in stainless steel, petering out to leave high levels of residual sugar. It may come as a surprise that the Toro Albala PX is not fortified, the alcohol levels are natural. The PX is aged in stainless steel. The Bodega is equipped with modern winemaking equipment, however, uses traditional methods to produce these exceptional wines.
It is only in recent years that there has been a strong revival in the PX style. When sherry sales began to slump, the PX wines slumped even further. For many, sherry was considered to be the tipple of vicars and maiden aunts whilst the wines of Montilla was the tipple of the vicar and maiden aunt on an economy drive. How things have changed! The PX is a wonderful accompaniment to soft cheeses and even better with chocolate - in all its expressions.

TASTING NOTE:Deep onion gold colour with tawny film and very distinct green olive hue. Superb nose of honey, molasses, caramel, spice and toffee. The palate has a rich oily viscosity that is 'thicker' than any of the other PX wines on the market currently. Superb flavours of honey, toffee and spice overlaid with marmalade. Perfect balance with exceptional length and depth. Very long aftertaste of raisins, toffee and caramel.
Drink (2005)
Alc/Vol: 17.0%

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