Emilio Lustau Dinner with Drake McCarthy

Albacore, tomato, olive

• NV Emilio Lustau Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda Papirusa

  Spain, Andalucía, Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda

  Beautiful light color, dry, even on the nose with a noticeable charcoal or other dry carbon smell, not petrol but close. Classic salinity at every stage of the tasting process. On the attack, granite and minerals, with a surprising long, bone dry finish.

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Squid, sherry, saffron, fried chick pea, grilled bread

• NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Fino Jarana Solera Reserva

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Some Charcoal on the nose but not overwhelming. On the attack some nice minerals but also surprisingly round and in balance. Taste evolves to vanilla and almond as you swirl, with hints of porcini. Warm, but still dry finish.

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Crab, tortilla, padron pepper relleno, romesco

• NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Puerto Fino

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  On the nose, lemon zest. Floral. nicer nose than the Papirusa or the Jarana but a lacking finish. Sad this wine didn't deliver longer as it had the goods up front.

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clam, chorizo, corn

• NV Emilio Lustau (Almacenista) Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado del Puerto Jose Luis González Obregón

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  My wine of the night: light brown color. On the nose all components of the orange, pitch, peel, and essence. just stunning. I coudl nose this wine for hours, never sipping. Blanched hazelnuts on the attack, then moving to nutmeg on the finish. not an unending finish, but certainly respectable.

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Pork belly, apricot, chanterelle, almond

• NV Emilio Lustau (Almacenista) Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palo Cortado Almacenista Vides 1/50

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Dark brown. Sweet nose of nutmeg and perhaps clove. a bit of hazelnut on the attack but actually a bit disappointing mid palette. Moves to more interesting orange notes before finishing with almond and cherry pit. Saves itself toward the end.

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Suckling pig, poached egg
--alt--
Beef bone marrow with parsley salad, served "en luge"

• NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Don Nuño Dry Oloroso

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Noticeable alcohol on the nose--rather distracting, actually. Vanilla and almonds on the finish.

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Pork Tenderloin, Jamon Iberico, white bean

• NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Very Rare Oloroso Emperatriz Eugenia

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  On the nose, yellow raisin. At attack, apricots then moving to toasted hazelnuts (skin on).

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Valdeon, fig, hazelnut

• 1997 Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Oloroso Anada

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Nose of dried figs. Tropical fruits on the palette, maybe passion fruit, but darker. Moving toward more cloying flavors of beet molasses. Not the extended 60 second finish i was hoping for.

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Fennel Panna Cotta, orange fennel seed brittle

• NV Emilio Lustau Moscatel de Chipiona Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Las Cruces

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  fascinating wine. None of the tropical fruits you'd expect on a dessert wine. pure vegetation! Huge nose of lovage and celery leaves. Palette evolves from green leafy herbs to more root vegetables like salsify, then finish with a refreshing grapefruit peel (like Cynar). Utterly fascinating wine worthy or bringing out for your biggest geek friends.

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Whole egg and Angostura shaken with PX

• NV Emilio Lustau Pedro Ximénez Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Solera Reserva San Emilio

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  wish it were more complex. Liquid raisins with not enough acidity or complexity to really get me going. Fantastic in an Angostura flip though....

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My wine of the night was the Obregon Almacenista Amontillado, with a distant second being the 1997 Ananda. Great to meet Drake and enjoy his affable style and knowledge. Also wonderful to introduce so many people to Bone Luge.