Lustau 2003 Vintage Sherry Añada

2003 Vintage Sherry Añada
(Oloroso aged - no Flor)
Lustau
Andalucia, Spain

*500ml bottle*

$51.99 on 3+ (code: 3saves5)
$56.99 US Low

This is late harvest Palomino, picked late, then the wine is matured for an average of 17 years in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks following static, oxidative aging (no Flor).  Bottles in 2020.  Though I believe the wine is peaking now and is in such a great spot.  Make sure to serve slightly chilled, between 10–12ºC, (50–54ºF).

My Tasting Note (2000)
Freshly baked bunt cake, caramel, toasted almonds, roasted and dry notes of orange marmalade, and sea salt breezes on the nose. On the palate the same, with the rich, sweet, and nutty flavors cut by the sea salt notes meshed with a brightness from the orange marmalade notes.  Super long on the finish, 2+ minutes easy.
ABV: 18%
RS: 185 g/L

2000: 91 pts Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2000 Vintage Sherry Añada is a sweet Oloroso with some struck match, old furniture and antique shop aromas, with a less sweet sensation although it's technically sweeter than the 1998 with 185 grams of residual sugar. It has less complexity and a more mainstream personality. 5,700 bottles were produced. It was bottled in July 2017. - Luis Guteirrez

1998: 93 pts Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Even though the wines are now referred to as Vintage Sherry Añada, the previous name, Añada Rich Oloroso Abocado, clearly defines the character of a wine like this 1998 Vintage Sherry Añada. The winery says it's "made from Palomino grapes cultivated in our vineyard Montegilillo, set in the Carrascal estate. It is aged for 19 years following a static, oxidative ageing process in sealed American oak barrels which previously contained Oloroso sherry," and the 162 grams of residual sugar hint more at sweet than abocado style. Sweet Oloroso might not be my favorite style of Sherry, but this is a good example of it, with notes of molasses syrup (arrope), quite sweet with the Oloroso character in the background. There is great complexity and personality here. For those who know it, it reminded me of some of the old De La Riva bottles. 6,600 half-liter bottles were filled in July 2017.