{"title":"Unfortified Wines of Andalucia! Featuring Bodega de Forlong and Ramiro Ibanez","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-style: normal;\"\u003eThough terroir has long been linked with quality in Andalusian wines, its full potential has often been overshadowed by the winemaking itself, coupled with the prestige of the given bodega. Though the once-popular single-vineyard wines of the region lived in notable obscurity for over a century, more recent times have seen experimentation in the region proliferate, with producers trending more towards vinous, unfortified expressions that look to highlight the intricacies of their soils and climate. Today, we are incredibly proud and excited not only to be offering some of the most head-turning wines the region has seen in recent times, but also to be putting the spotlight on two producers who we've come to really admire and respect: Bodega de Forlong and Ramiro Ibanez. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-style: normal;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; color: rgb(11, 11, 11);\"\u003eRocio Aspera and Alejandro Navaerez named Bodega de Forlong after a British merchant who historically owned the land they now cultivate in their hometown of El Puerto de Santa Maria. The couple started with six hectares of abandoned farmland purchased in 2007 by Rocio’s father.  After both receiving masters degrees in winemaking (Rocio more specifically for viticulture in hot climates), Alejandro further refined his skills in some top French estates including the distinguished Smith Haut Lafitte. In 2014 the bodega was completed and the two began fermenting and aging their wines in their collection of 2,000 liter clay tinajas, steel tanks and barriques. In a region that you could argue had at one point lost some sense of individuality amongst producers, it feels like a special moment in time to see these two having fun being their brilliant, forward-thinking selves through their wine. The approach in the cellar is completely their own, just take their 80\/20 cuvée for example: a direct press of Palomino which ferments with the P.X skins left over from another wine. It should also be noted that Rocio and Alejandro’s vineyards are organic-certified, and they employ biodynamic treatments along with a low-no sulfites approach. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-style: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; color: rgb(11, 11, 11);\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003eAs Julian Jeffs writes of Andalusia’s famed albariza soils in his definitive guide to sherry: “From a distance, especially in bright sunlight, they look almost as white as snow; but when you are walking through them you see many colours—shades of grey, brown, ochre, and even red—while some, with hardly any topsoil at all, really are white.” This kind of site-specific nuance is the foundation of what Ramiro Ibáñez manages to evoke in his wines. Ramiro focuses on unfortified white wines meant to capture the differences between three different pagos, including perhaps the most coveted in all of Sanlucar de Barrameda, Miraflores.  All 3 of his wines on offer today come from grapes of different pagos, and all 3 were aged under flor. The oxidative element here works in great harmony with Palomino’s fruit quality; the wines all have a potent minerality and salinity, but each with a different primary character. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003eIn a world that can seem constantly caught between ‘classic’ and ‘new-school’ wines, producers like these are great examples of those two things not being mutually exclusive. These are creative wines that are helping to open up a completely new frontier for an otherwise very traditional region, but those steps forward couldn’t be taken without lessons learned from the rich traditions that have preceded them. Drink up, and savor it !\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003e*Please note that these wines are all pre-arrival, so please allow until 8\/22 to pick up or have delivered*\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', Georgia, serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003e-\u003cem\u003eNicolas Douglas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"el-pirana-2022-alventus","title":"Ramiro Ibanez 2024 UBE Paganilla","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003ePaganilla is typically quite saline on the nose and attack. The finish is clean and fresh. Kowledge about the soils was very important as people would try to blend fragile young wines with older wines in the coastal areas in order to amplify the wines. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes from importer:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100% Palomino fino from two different plots in the Paganilla pago, one of them on Tosca de Barrajuela soil on the top of the pago’s hill, and the other on the south corner on Tosca\u003cbr\u003eCerrada Albarizas. Paganilla is east of Miraflores. 4 months of biological aging under flor, then a further 4 months of aging oxidatively before bottling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jose Pastor Selections","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686891708641,"sku":"17657","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/3790\/6145\/files\/RamiroIbanez2023UBEPaganilla-FB.jpg?v=1725916856"},{"product_id":"ramiro-ibanez-2023-ube-el-reventon","title":"Ramiro Ibanez 2024 UBE El Reventon","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003eReventon is the vineyard that Ramiro used to play in with his childhood friend, throwing tosca at eachother. There is a slope in the parcel that he particularly likes, and there is a bit more weight here compared to Paganilla and Miraflores. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes from importer:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100% Palomino Fino from the El Reventón pago, on a west-facing slope on a hill by the Guadalquivir River near Sanlúcar. This is the plot closest to the river. The 15 year old vines are planted at about 80m on Tosca Cerrada Albarizas. Aged under flor for a month and a half, then oxidatively for 6 and a half months longer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jose Pastor Selections","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686917955809,"sku":"17659","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/3790\/6145\/files\/RamiroIbanez2023UBEElReventon-FB.jpg?v=1725916830"},{"product_id":"ramiro-ibanez-2023-ube-miraflores","title":"Ramiro Ibanez 2024 UBE Miraflores","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003eRamiro explained to us that thre are all types of soils in Miraflores but there is always freshness. No stress on the vines, and very forward and fresh wines. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes from importer:\u003c\/strong\u003e From four different plots in Miraflores Alta and Miraflores Baja, one of the most celebrated pagos in Sanlúcar, with 80 to 90 years old Palomino vines planted at 50 to 60 meters above sea level facing west on three different types of Albariza soils: Lentejuelas, Lustrillo and Tosca Cerrada. 3 months of biological aging under flor, then a further 5 months of oxidative aging.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jose Pastor Selections","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686918185185,"sku":"17660","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/3790\/6145\/files\/RamiroIbanez2023UBEMiraflores-FB.jpg?v=1725916624"},{"product_id":"forlong-2022-petit-forlong-tinto","title":"Forlong 2022 Petit Forlong Tinto","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom the good folks at La Luz Selections:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Early August, hand-harvested grapes arrive at the winery and are placed in a cold room at 40°F for 48 hours. Next, they go through a detailed hand selection and the chosen grapes are de-stemmed and placed whole into clay amphora where they begin to spontaneously ferment after 3-4 days. Occasional hand punch-downs. After fermentation is finished, the wine undergoes malolactic in clay tinajas (amphora) where it rests for 6 months and is then racked off into French barrique for another 6 months for a total of 6 months of aging. Minimalito Sulphur is added only at bottling.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Regal Wine Imports","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46774342058209,"sku":"8437015176062","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/3790\/6145\/files\/Screen-Shot-2025-08-15-at-10-29-03-AM.png?v=1755268550"},{"product_id":"forlong-2023-8020","title":"Forlong 2023 80\/20","description":"\u003cp\u003e80\/20 refers to the blend of Palomino from two different sites: 80% from the Pago de Forlong, and 20% from the Pago de Bilbaina Alta. The wine ferments in clay tinajas where it is simultaneously macerated with the leftover Pedro Ximenez skins of another wine. It then spends 12 months in vat on the fine lees and is bottled unfiltered, without additional sulfites. The resulting wine shows notes of apricot, bruised and salted pears, all with a subtle tannic grip.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Regal Wine Imports","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46774342123745,"sku":"26359","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/3790\/6145\/files\/Screen-Shot-2025-08-15-at-10-26-13-AM.png?v=1755268551"},{"product_id":"forlong-2024-blanco","title":"Forlong 2024 Blanco","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom the good folks at La Luz Selections\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Today, the young, vibrant couple owns 14 ha, planted between two large plots in Pago Balbaína Baja (Palomino, PX, Merlot, Syrah y Tintilla de Rota) and Pago de Grañina (Palomino only) both within the Puerto de Santa Maria designation. 'Pago del Forlon' in Balbaína is 7km from the sea, comprised of pure Albariza (Tosca y Lustrillo) chalk and Poniente salinity. The Palomino for this wine come exclusively from 'Pago de Grañina' planted with Palomino has higher levels of Albariza Barajuela, a lightly colored and thinly layered Albariza that looks 'milojas'.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis young Palomino is bright crystalline yellow in color with green tinges and some weight to back it up. Aromas of Banana Boat and sunshine with a citrus splash give way to a balsamic depth of anise, Lime zest, aloe, white flowers, thyme and herbs. On the pallet the wine has fruity tension, freshness and flavor. A wine that could only be from Cádiz.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Regal Wine Imports","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46774342189281,"sku":"8437015176024","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/3790\/6145\/files\/Screen-Shot-2025-08-15-at-10-24-27-AM.png?v=1755268554"}],"url":"https:\/\/chambersstwines.com\/collections\/unfortified-wines-of-andalucia-featuring-bodega-de-forlong-and-ramiro-ibanez.oembed","provider":"Chambers Street Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}