Oloroso Solera Familiar (Gutiérrez Colosía)
The Solera Familiar holds the oldest wines from Gutiérrez – Colosía
Solera Familiar is the oldest range of sherry wines from bodegas Gutiérrez – Colosía. It was bottled for the first time in 2008 and contains four wines from their Sacristía. This Oloroso is said to be over 35 years of age.
I’ve said it before: this bodega should invest more in their public presence. The website isn’t good and doesn’t even list all the wines. One thing that surprises me is the fact that most distributors sell this as a 50+ year old wine, yet there’s no VORS certificate and the 18% ABV seems too low for such a high age. Vague information does not make a good impression on me. It’s a shame because their wines are generally quite good. A few years ago I already tried the Amontillado Solera Familiar from the same range.
Oloroso Solera Familiar (18%, Gutiérrez Colosía, 50 cl)
Nose: quite dark, with a focus on nutty aromas like hazelnuts and walnuts. Just a hint of raisin and prune. There’s also a slightly meaty hint, highly oxidative, with caramelized notes and toasted elements. Roasted coffee beans. The typical polished and volatile Oloroso side is a little subdued here, but I realize this is a slightly older bottle.
Mouth: very dry, a lot more acidic than I expected. A firm herbal note (slightly bitter) as well as lots of warm oak. Some saline hints (we’re in El Puerto of course), along with burnt caramel and subtle sweet spice. Overall a rather serious profile, even though the acidity lends it a certain elegance.
Availability: very limited. The price has risen significantly in the past few years. Around € 100-115 for a 50 cl bottle is perhaps a bit too much. Decántalo still has a slightly lower price.
Summary: This Oloroso certainly has its merits, but I was more impressed by the Amontillado. Maybe this could in fact benefit from a higher ABV, it doesn't jump from the glass like some other Olorosos.
3.5
Good
About the Author
Ruben is a Certified Sherry Educator who fell in love with sherry some 25 years ago, but switched to a higher gear in 2013 and started writing about it. Lived in Madrid for a couple of years, now back in Belgium. I also run a whisky blog over at www.whiskynotes.be
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