Milenario - Solera Gran Reserva - early 2000s - 40%
Tough to find much on this one. Quoting here 2017 info from the blog Jerez-Xeres-Sherry:
"This fine brandy boasts soleras established in 1795 which predate the foundation of Caballero in 1830. In 1908 Caballero bought the soleras from Marqués de Misa and moved them from Jerez to the San Francisco bodega in El Puerto de Santa María. The name Milenario comes from the supposedly thousand year old Drago Milenario (Dragon Tree) which was long ago brought from its native Canary Islands and grows in a patio at the bodega. The branches are supported by chains in case they collapse from their own weight. This is Caballero's top brandy and its final solera consists of only 5 butts through which the brandy ages for 20 years. Just to confuse things there are also Milenario Solera and Milenario Solera Reserva."
Nose: Decadent and dessert-y. PX. Raisins. Earthy. Old oak. Warm raspberry filling. Dark chocolate.
Flavor: Caramel. Raisins. Milk chocolate. Acidic grapes. Dry oak. Oxidized vermouth. Brown Sugar.
Structure: Full and slow up front. Tart and quick mid playing higher. Long and soft in the finish.
Alcohol Integration: Good clarity. Decent complexity. The body transitions a little clumsily from slightly flabby to thin.
Score: 6 (Solid) It’s sweet up front, but ultimately layered with dry and acidic notes. Fair amount of complexity. None of the blue cheese that I got with others in this series. An after dinner pour for sure, but more complex and balanced than most Spanish brandy I can pull off the shelf in the US. I’ll pick up a second at $40. It's kept me away from the ice cream.
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Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour