Bodegas Toro Albalá
Poley Oloroso en Rama Solera 15 Year
Region: Spain - Andulucia
Bodegas Toro Albalá
This prestigious family estate was founded in 1844 in Aguilar de la Frontera, located in the P.O.D Montilla-Moriles zone, by the great-grandfather of current owner Antonio Sánchez. It’s part of one of the largest Andalusian viticulture zones, known for the production of Fino, the cultivation of Pedro Ximénez grape and the considerable presence of albariza soils.
In 1922, José María Toro Albalá moved to the current location in Aguilar’s old power station, introducing updated technologies and establishing Toro Albalá as a leader in Montilla. Toro Albalá became the first Montilla producer to bottle Dessert Pedro Ximénez in 1970, a product historically sold in bulk to producers and shippers in D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry for aging and blending.
Toro Albalá is recognized as one of the greatest producers of Vintage Don PX, with the Gran Reserva spending a minimum of 25 years in barrel before release.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Estate vineyards in D.O.P. Montilla-Moriles.
- Soils: Chalky white Albariza
- Climate: Hot, dry summers
Harvest Notes
- Hand harvested in August
- Pressed and finest musts selected
- Not fortified
- Oxidatively aged in American oak barrels for a minimum of 15 years through the criadera and solera system
Winemaker's Notes
Mahogany with old gold borders and slow legs. Deep aromas of seasoned oak, toffee, smoke, vanilla and caramelized nuts with ripe fruit undercurrents. Smooth, dry and well balanced from its long stay in the criaderas. An elegant bitterness adds to the complex, persistent finish.
Wine Summary
100% Pedro Ximénez; alcohol: 17.5%; estate vineyards in D.O.P. Montilla-Moriles; vines planted in chalky white Albariza soils; hand harvested in August; selected musts not fortified; oxidatively aged at least 15 years in American oak barrels through criadera and solera system.
Technical Information
- 100% Pedro Ximénez
- Alcohol: 17.5%
Reviews
90 Points
Names have changed and all labels are new; they are all named Poley and have a reference to the number of average years the wines have spent in the solera, like the NV Poley Oloroso en Rama Solera 15 Años, which is an Oloroso with 18% alcohol and 15 years of average age. It’s young, faintly oxidative with a lightish palate and soft flavors. A small Oloroso. All Poley wines now come in 500-milliliter bottles. There’s no clear indication of saca or bottling date. 2022 – 2025
© Wine Advocate, September, 2022
General Info
| COUNTRY | SPAIN |
| REGION | ANDULUCIA |
| APPELLATION | D.O. Montilla-Moriles |
| PROPRIETORS | Antonio Sanchez Romero |
| FOUNDED | 1844 |
| WINEMAKER | Francisco Capote |
| ANNUAL PRODUCTION | 8,333 9L cases sweet wine; 16,666 9L cases dry wine |
| FARMING (SUSTAINABLE, ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC) | No chemicals are used, all vineyards are dry farmed. |
