CardenalMendozaCartaReal(700mL)

<p>A splendid Brandy of Cádiz aged an average of twenty-five years using the solera method for a rich palate and deep fragrance. </p><p>The history of the <em>Sanchez Romate bodega</em> goes all the way back to <em>1781 </em>when it was founded by <em>Juan Sánchez Latorre </em>in the Spanish city of Cádiz. Remarkably, the entire operation is still in family hands. The bodega supports <em>several brands</em>, including their flagship <em>Cardenal Mendoza </em>line of <em>solera-aged Brandy</em> and six other exclusive Spirits.</p><p><em>Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real </em>stands out from the rest of its fine sister Brandies. The first barrels were laid down in <em>1981</em> to celebrate the bicentennial of the bodega, but the first release did not come until the turn of the century when the grand Spirit was at <em>perfection</em>. The name of the release — <em>Carta Real</em>, the “Royal Letter” — comes from a <em>royal state dinner </em>served in 1900 at the royal palace of <em>King Alfonso XII</em>. Since the year 2000 this annual release has continued to advance in character with the average age of the Brandy reaching upwards of <em>twenty-five years</em> using the Solera method in <em>ex-Sherry cask</em>. This is an annual exclusive release and each bottle is hand-numbered.</p><p><u>Smartass Corner:</u><em>Cádiz sits on the Atlantic coast just about forty miles north of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea opens up to the Ocean.</em></p>